Fascia adherens

Fascia adherens is a type of cell junction best known for its role in connecting the cardiac muscle cells in the heart. It is one of the three types of intercalated discs, the other two being desmosomes and gap junctions.

Structure

The fascia adherens is a broad band in which the actin of the myofibril is anchored to the cell membrane. This anchoring is achieved through a complex of proteins. The transmembrane component of this complex is the cadherin molecule, which binds to catenin, a cytoplasmic protein that in turn binds to actin.

Function

The primary function of the fascia adherens is to hold cardiac muscle cells together during the vigorous contraction and relaxation cycles of the heart. This is achieved by the anchoring of actin filaments of the myofibril to the cell membrane, which allows for the transmission of contractile forces from cell to cell.

Clinical significance

Alterations in the structure or function of the fascia adherens can lead to various cardiac diseases. For example, mutations in the genes encoding for cadherin and catenin, the key components of the fascia adherens, have been associated with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC), a rare but serious heart condition.

See also

• Cell junction
• Intercalated disc
• Cardiac muscle