tight junction vs desmosome

[prsndwg]

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What is the exact differene b/w desmosome and tight junction? Can someone explain them both to me please..


Thanks

 

[Sasha324]

desmosomes are mostly to hold cells together. Why? think of epithelial cells of your stomach... always under "attack" by the low pH and the constantly moving food. So we're going to need to keep these cells intact, that's what desmosomes are for. Tight junction is to prevent particles from going through the openings between 2 adjacent cells. So in the small intestine where you're digesting your food, you'll find monomers that are trying to sneak in not through the cell, but around the cell. We have to stop these guys from doing that by means of tight junctions. Hope this helps.

 

[Orgolover]

Well said man. Desmosomes are often likened to ''spot welds'' and are good at holding stuff together. Tight junctions are affiliated with the basolateral membrane as found in the kidney and is an important part of cellular transport. It does not allow to get by the sides of the cells. If a solute wants to pass it must go through the cells themselves. This is an important function of the kidney in reabsorbtion.