Junctional Complexes EM

This image is a micrograph showing the three components of the junctional complex. The tight junction is closest to the apical surface, followed by the adhering junction and desmosome. Note the relative locations of each junction and the distance between the two adjacent cells at each point. Identify the intracellular plaques to which the transmembrane components of the adhering junction and desmosome attach. What are the structural components of each portion of the junctional complex?

Answer: Tight junction = claudins and occludins. Adhering junction = cadherins and intracellular actin. Desmosome = Cadherin and intracellular intermediate filaments