Question

What are the different junctions in animal cells? Plant cells? Which junctions in plant and animal cells are similar? Which junctions in plant and animal cells are similar?

Answer 1

Answer:

The different junctions in animal cells are tight junction, gap junction, and desmosomes.

Explanation:

The different cells are joined by cell junctions. The major functions of cell junction are communication between the cells. In animal cells, there are 3 types of cells - tight cells, gap junctions, and desmosomes.  

The tight junctions are watertight seals. This does not allow any water or ions to pass through the cells. The gap junctions are present in epithelial tissue organs such as lungs, bladder, intestine, stomach, and kidneys.

The gap junctions are connective channels between 2 cells. This allows the ions, water, and other molecules to pass between the cells. The gap junctions are present in the cardiac muscles. Here it allows the passage of calcium ions and helps in the action potential.

Desmosomes connect 2 cells along with the microfilaments. This is composed of keratin. It helps in holding 2 or more cells tightly. Due to desmosomes tissues can be stretched.  

e.g. skin, intestines.

In-plant cells the 2 cells are joined by plasmodesmata. This arises from the middle lamella. It is also a channel-like structure that connects the protoplasm of 2 cells. The ions and other molecules pass between the plant cells by plasmodesmata.  

The plasmodesmata and gap junctions are similar. They both help in cell communication in plants and animals and transport ions, molecules.