Desmosomal Molecules In and Out of Adhering Junctions: Normal and Diseased States of Epidermal, Cardiac and Mesenchymally Derived Cells

Figure 3

Micrographs showing the immunolocalization of the desmosomal plaque protein, desmoplakin, on cryostat sections through the murine myocardium. (a) Immunofluorescence micrograph showing the localization of desmoplakin (red) in all composite junction structures of the intercalated disks (IDs). (b) Immunofluorescence micrograph showing desmoplakin (red) labeling of the composite junctions on the background of phase-contrast optics. (c) Merged image showing plakophilin-2 (red), 𝛽-catenin (green) and nuclear DAPI-staining (blue), on an interference contrast microscopy background. Composite junctions (CJs) are characterized by their yellow merge colour whereas the zonulae adhaerentes and other AJs of the capillary endothelial cell layers here show only 𝛽-catenin-positivity. Bar in (a): 100 𝜇m; bar in (b): 50 𝜇m; bar in (c): 25 𝜇m.