Summary of the science
Cell-cell adhesion is a process where cells stick together, so that they can form tissues and organs. They can do this with the help of special structures and molecules located on the cell's surface. These structures, like junctions and molecules, create strong bonds between cells, helping them maintain their shape and work together efficiently.
About the research
The Nelson lab's research focuses on understanding how cells interact to organise complex tissues and how different plasma membrane domains are formed for specific tissue functions. The classical cadherin/β-catenin/α-catenin complex (CCC) is a key player in the cell-cell adhesion. The CCC facilitates mechanical coupling between neighbouring cells through trans- interactions between cadherins on adjacent cells, while also connecting to the actin cytoskeleton underneath. Their findings suggest that the core CCC components originated before the last common ancestor of unikonts, but some are shown to have evolved more complex abilities over time. One example is α-catenin, which has gained more complex control of the actin cytoskeleton.
About the illustration
The CCC complex is an important area of research for the Nelson lab, so we wanted this to be the centre point of the illustration. Cells are represented as filled white cells at 50% opacity, which are linked via surface molecules shown in black. The internal network, resembling a taxonomic diagram, suggests the evolution of the CCC components over time, while also representing its internal connections to cytoskeletal elements.