Question

Desmosomes are

• A. Intermediate filament-based cell adhesion complexes
• B. Protein synthesizing macromolecular complexes
• C. Subcellular organelles
• D. DNA-protein complexes

Hint:

Desmosomes are crucial for tissue integrity, especially in mechanical stress-bearing tissues. They connect intermediate filaments of adjacent cells and help maintain structural cohesion.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Desmosomes are complex, membrane-bound structures that are critical for maintaining the structural integrity of tissues, particularly in tissues exposed to mechanical stress. They act as junctions that provide strong adhesion between adjacent cells by linking the intermediate filaments of one cell to those of the neighboring cell. These complexes play a key role in anchoring cells together, ensuring that the tissue remains cohesive and resistant to stretching or tearing forces. Desmosomes are especially abundant in tissues like the skin, cardiac muscle, and smooth muscle, where they help maintain tissue architecture during contraction and movement.
While desmosomes are involved in cell adhesion, other options describe different cellular structures. For example, protein synthesizing macromolecular complexes (option B) refer to ribosomes, which are responsible for protein synthesis. Subcellular organelles (option C) include structures like mitochondria and the nucleus, which have distinct functions in cellular activities. DNA-protein complexes (option D) refer to chromatin, which is involved in DNA storage and gene expression regulation. Therefore, option A is the correct answer.