Fig. 1
From: Diverse cell junctions with unique molecular composition in tissues of a sponge (Porifera)
(artwork in b adapted from Schippers and Nichols (2018), and in c adapted from Mitra et al. (2005))]
Adherens Junction- and Focal Adhesion-like structures in tissues of Ephydatia muelleri. a Top: Cells of the apical endopinacoderm contain bundles of actin filaments that culminate in dense plaques resembling spot adherens junctions at points of cell–cell contact. Bottom: Cells of the basopinacoderm contain bundles of actin filaments that resemble stress fibers of focal adhesions (white arrowheads). b Cross-sectional diagram of the juvenile E. muelleri body illustrating the distribution of Emβ-catenin (blue arrows indicate the direction of water flow in the aquiferous system). c Schematic illustration of the molecular organization of a focal adhesion. Proteins highlighted in red are the subject of the current study [FAK = Focal Adhesion Kinase