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What type of junction anchors microfilaments inside the cell to the extracellular matrix (ECM) outside the cell?

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User Falmarri
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

Hemidesmosomes are the type of junction that anchors microfilaments inside the cell to the extracellular matrix, utilizing integrins for adhesion and being reinforced by cytoplasmic proteins such as talin and vinculin.

Step-by-step explanation:

The type of junction that anchors microfilaments inside the cell to the extracellular matrix (ECM) outside the cell is known as a hemidesmosome. Hemidesmosomes function like half of a desmosome and are important for cell adhesion, linking cells to the ECM such as the basal lamina. They are essential for the structural stability and integrity of tissues, and unlike desmosomes which use cadherins for cell-to-cell adhesion, hemidesmosomes utilize integrins as adhesion proteins to connect the intracellular microfilaments, such as actin, to the extracellular matrix. These connections are reinforced and regulated by cytoplasmic proteins such as talin, which binds to actin, and vinculin, strengthening the attachment to the ECM.

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User Hientp
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