MCD BIO 165A Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Intermediate Filament, Cadherin, Hemidesmosome

• School: UCLA
• Department: Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology
• Course: MCD BIO 165A
• Professor: sagasti

Document Summary

Function: anchor intermediate cytoskeleton to the ecm. Location: basal side of epithelial cells; adjacent to basal membrane. Function: diffusion barrier for apical and basal cell components; permeability barrier for molecules passing between cells. Function: sense mechanical and biochemical cues that facilitate changes in cell shape; coordinate contraction of actin cytoskeleton to help cells change shape; activate the hippo pathway in confluent cells to decrease yap/taz activity. Can be continuous around cell (belt) or spot. Function: help anchor keratin intermediate filaments which contributes to the strength of the epithelium. Protein components: cadherins interacting with cytoplasmic plaque of attachment proteins. Function: allow mixing of cytoplasmic contents between cells (propagating signals, exchanging ions, equilibrating metabolic states); pore between two cells; specific subunits can allow directionality of substrate flow; can be selective for size, charge and other properties. Protein components: dodecameric structure - two connexons (each with 6 connexins) Connexons can be hetero or homomeric and can interact heterotypically or homotypically.