Structures called desmosomes connect cells to each other and transfer mechanical stress. They are especially important in tissues under continual mechanical stress, such as heart muscle (pictured).

A University of Manchester scientist has revealed the mechanism that binds skin cells tightly together, which he believes will lead to new treatments for painful and debilitating skin diseases and ...

Microscopy image showing heart muscle cells (gray) in a mouse heart. The plakophilin-2 protein (green) is present in the desmosomes connecting adjacent heart muscle cells. After introduction of the ...