Adherence junctions link to the actin cytoskeleton

Adherens junctions (AJs) or zonula adherens are cell-cell adhesion complexes that are continuously assembled and disassembled, allowing cells within a tissue to respond to forces, biochemical signals and structural changes in their micro-environment. AJs are usually found closer to the basal membrane than TJs and are composed of E-Cadherins, a family of transmembrane proteins that form homodimers with other E-Cadherin molecules on adjacent cells and other proteins including b-catenin and a-catenin which links the inner face of E-Cadherin to actin filaments.