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Cell junction
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<p>Cell junctions or junctional complexes are a class of cellular structures consisting of <a href="/facts/Multiprotein_complexes/ukuyKJfj">multiprotein complexes</a> that provide contact or adhesion between neighboring <a href="/facts/Cell_(biology)/bLM9UQvy">cells</a> or between a cell and the <a href="/facts/Extracellular_matrix/kaHC5Ez8">extracellular matrix</a> in animals. They also maintain the paracellular barrier of <a href="/facts/Epithelia/ecKHcHC3">epithelia</a> and control <a href="/facts/Paracellular_transport/64ImkGCg">paracellular transport</a>. Cell junctions are especially abundant in epithelial tissues. Combined with <a href="/facts/Cell_adhesion_molecule/84EkpbAb">cell adhesion molecules</a> and <a href="/facts/Extracellular_matrix/kaHC5Ez8">extracellular matrix</a>, cell junctions help hold <a href="/facts/Animal_cells/bLM9UQvy">animal cells</a> together. </p><p>Cell junctions are also especially important in enabling communication between neighboring cells via specialized protein complexes called <a href="/facts/Gap_junction/nhAEWww4">communicating (gap) junctions</a>. Cell junctions are also important in reducing stress placed upon cells. </p><p>In plants, similar communication channels are known as <a href="/facts/Plasmodesma/GmTacJnX">plasmodesmata</a>, and in <a href="/facts/Fungus/BHo5DP59">fungi</a> they are called <a href="/facts/Septal_pores/l5JoYbdW">septal pores</a>. </p>