Cell adhesion molecules and junctions

Welcome to this lecture on Cell Adhesion Molecules and Junctions, providing an overview of the fundamental roles of cell adhesion molecules and junctions in maintaining tissue structure and function. We will explore the major CAM families—cadherins, integrins, and selectins— their specific functions, and the specialized junctions they help form, such as tight junctions, gap junctions, and desmosomes. Additionally, we will discuss how the balance of cell to cell and cell to matrix interactions underlies tissue architecture and adaptation. Finally, we will examine how disruptions in CAMs contribute to diseases and how this knowledge informs potential therapies.. Cell adhesion molecules and junctions are crucial for building and maintaining tissue structure and function in multicellular organisms. They allow cells to adhere to each other and to the extracellular matrix, forming tissues with integrity and flexibility. Major types include cadherins, integrins, and selectins. Cadherins mediate cell-to-cell adhesion; integrins enable cell-matrix and sometimes cell-cell interactions; and selectins facilitate transient cell-cell interactions, especially in immunity. The main classes of adhesion molecules differ by structure and binding specificity. Cadherins are calcium-dependent glycoproteins mediating strong, specific cell-cell adhesion through homophilic binding, forming junctions like adherens junctions and desmosomes. Integrins are heterodimeric receptors