查看文章

Desmosomes and hemidesmosomes are the major cell surface attachment sites for intermediate filaments at cell‐cell and cell‐substrate contacts, respectively. The transmembrane molecules of the desmosome belong to the cadherin family of calcium‐dependent adhesion molecules, whereas those in the hemidesmosome include the integrin class of cell matrix receptors. In each junction, the cytoplasmic domains of certain transmembrane junction components contain unusually long carboxy‐ter‐ minal tails not found in those family members involved in linkage of actin to the cell surface. These domains are thought to be important for the regulation of junction assembly and specific attachment of intermediate filaments via associated adapter proteins. Recent developments have suggested the exciting possibility that these junctions, in addition to playing an important structural function in tissue integrity, are both …