Hemidesmosomes

The columnar, cuboidal basal cells are 18-20 xm in height and 8-10 iim in diameter. They form a monolayer adhered to a basement membrane by hemidesmosomes which are linked to anchoring fibrils of collagen type VII. At the lateral borders, basal cells are extensively interdigitated and joined together in places only by junctional complexes (zonula adherens), desmosomes, and gap junctions. 

Intermediate filament associated proteins (IFAPs) coordinate interactions between intermediate filaments (IFs) and other cytoskeletal elements and organelles, including membrane-associated junctions such as desmosomes and hemidesmosomes in epithelial cells, costameres in striated muscle, and intercalated discs in cardiac muscle. IFAPs thus serve as critical connecting links in the IF scaffolding that organizes the cytoplasm and confers mechanical stability to cells and tissues. However, in recent years it has become apparent that IFAPs are not limited to structural... 

Fibroblasts and endothelial cells do not assemble hemidesmosomes. Rather, their matrix adhesive devices are so-called focal contacts. Pivotal components of focal contacts are heterodimeric integrins that bind to a... 

Andra, K., Kornacker, I., Jorgl, A., Zorer, M., Spazierer, D., Fuchs, P., Fischer, I., and Wiche, G. (2003). Plectin-isoform-specific rescue of hemidesmosomal defects in plectin (-/-) keratinocytes./. Invest. Dermatol. 120, 189-197. 

Borradori, L., and Sonnenberg, A. (1999). Structure and function of hemidesmosomes More than simple adhesion complexes. / Invest. Derm. 112, 411—118. 

Koster, J., van Wilpe, S., Kuikman, I., Litjens, S. H., and Sonnenberg, A. (2004b). Role of binding of plectin to the integrin beta4 subunit in the assembly of hemidesmosomes. Mol. Biol. Cell 15, 1211-1223. 

Skalli, O., Jones,J. C. R., Gagescu, R., and Goldman, R. D. (1994). IFAP 300 is common to desmosomes and hemidesmosomes and is a possible linker of intermediate filaments to these junctions. /. Biol. Chem. 125, 159-170. 

Westgate, G. E., Weaver, A. C., and Couchman, J. R. (1985). Bullous pemphigoid antigen localization suggests an intracellular association with hemidesmosomes. J. Invest. Dermatol. 84, 218-224. 

Gerecke, D., Gordon, M., Wagman, L., Champliaud, M., Burgeson, R. (1994). Hemidesmosomes, anchoring filaments, and anchoring fibrils components of a unique attachment complex. In Biology of Extracellular Matrix (P.D. Yurchenco, D.E. Birk, R.E. Mecham, eds), pp. 417-39. Academic Press, Orlando, FL. 

Pulkkinen, L., Uitto, J. (1998). Hemidesmosomal variants of epidermolysis hullosa. Mutations in the alpha6heta4 integrin and the 180-kD hullous pemphigoid antigen/type XVII collagen genes. Exp. Dermatol. 7 46-64. 

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