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Intercellular Junctions and the Cardiac Intercalated Disk

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Advances in Myocardiology

Part of the book series: Advances in Myocardiology ((ADMY))

Abstract

Cardiac muscle cells are equipped with three distinct types of intercellular junction—gap junctions, “spot” desmosomes, and “sheet” desmosomes (or fasciae adherentes)—located in a specialized portion of the plasma membrane, the intercalated disk. Gap junctions are responsible for electrical coupling and the transfer of small molecules between cells, whereas the desmosomelike junctions (also known as adherens junctions) provide strong intercellular adhesion. The adhesion sites formed by the “spot” desmosome anchor the intermediate-filament cytoskeleton of the cell; those formed by the fascia adherens anchor the contractile apparatus. An understanding of the ultrastructure of these junctions helps explain how they carry out their functions, and new observations in this field have been made through the application of ultrarapid freezing techniques in conjunction with freeze-fracture electron microscopy. With recent findings from biochemical and immunocytochemical studies, this understanding is now being extended to the molecular level.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cardiac Medicine, Cardiothoracic Institute (University of London), London, W1N 2DX, England

    N. J. Severs

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  1. N. J. Severs
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Cardiothoracic Institute, University of London, London, England

    Peter Harris  & Philip A. Poole-Wilson  & 

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© 1985 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Severs, N.J. (1985). Intercellular Junctions and the Cardiac Intercalated Disk. In: Harris, P., Poole-Wilson, P.A. (eds) Advances in Myocardiology. Advances in Myocardiology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-1287-2_18

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-1287-2_18

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4757-1289-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4757-1287-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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