Cell Adhesion Molecules

Definition

Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are a group of proteins located on the cell surface that facilitate cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix adhesion. They play crucial roles in maintaining tissue structure, mediating communication between cells, and regulating cellular behavior. By interacting with other cells and the extracellular environment, CAMs influence processes such as development, immune response, and wound healing.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. CAMs are essential for the formation and maintenance of tissues, as they help to establish connections between cells.
2. Different types of CAMs, like cadherins and integrins, serve specific functions in adhesion processes and can trigger signaling pathways inside the cell.
3. The dysfunction or dysregulation of CAMs can lead to various diseases, including cancer, where altered adhesion properties enable metastasis.
4. CAMs are involved in immune responses by aiding leukocyte migration to sites of inflammation through interactions with endothelial cells.
5. Post-translational modifications of CAMs can influence their stability, function, and interaction with other molecules, affecting how cells adhere.

Review Questions

• How do cell adhesion molecules contribute to the maintenance of tissue integrity?
  • Cell adhesion molecules contribute to the maintenance of tissue integrity by forming strong connections between adjacent cells. This adhesion is crucial for holding tissues together and preventing the disruption of cellular arrangements. CAMs like cadherins ensure that cells within tissues remain properly aligned and connected, which is essential for normal tissue function and structure.
• Discuss the role of post-translational modifications in the function of cell adhesion molecules.
  • Post-translational modifications can significantly impact the function of cell adhesion molecules by altering their stability, localization, and interaction with other proteins. For example, glycosylation can affect how well CAMs bind to each other or to extracellular matrix components. These modifications can determine how effectively cells adhere during processes such as development and wound healing.
• Evaluate the implications of dysfunctional cell adhesion molecules in disease progression, particularly in cancer metastasis.
  • Dysfunctional cell adhesion molecules can have serious implications in disease progression, especially in cancer metastasis. When CAMs lose their normal adhesive properties due to mutations or post-translational changes, cancer cells may detach from their primary site and migrate to distant tissues more easily. This altered adhesion not only facilitates metastasis but can also enable tumors to evade immune surveillance, making it crucial to understand CAM functions in developing targeted therapies.

Related terms

Cadherins:

A class of CAMs that are important for calcium-dependent cell-cell adhesion and are crucial in maintaining tissue integrity.

Integrins:

Transmembrane receptors that facilitate cell-extracellular matrix adhesion and signal transduction, impacting cell survival and migration.

Selectins:

CAMs that mediate the adhesion of leukocytes to endothelial cells during inflammation by recognizing specific carbohydrate moieties.