Desmosomes link to intermediate filaments

Desmosomes, also known as macula adherens, is a cell structure specialized junctional complex, that are localised randomly arranged on the lateral sides of plasma membranes. Desmosomes are one of the stronger cell-to-cell adhesion types and are found in tissue that experience intense mechanical stress, such as cardiac muscle tissue, bladder tissue, gastrointestinal mucosa and epithelia. Desmosomes are composed of a network of the transmembrane cadherins, Desmoglein and Desmocolin, and adaptor proteins, Plakoglobin and Plakophilin, which help secure Desmoplakin to Keratin (Type I and II intermediate filaments) to the desmosome structure.