hemidesmosome
A cell-substrate junction (attachment structure) found in epithelial cells that links intermediate filaments to extracellular matrices via transmembrane complexes. In vertebrates, hemidesmosomes mediate contact between the basal side of epithelial cells and the basal lamina. In C. elegans, hemidesmosomes connect epithelial cells to distinct extracellular matrices on both the apical and basal cell surfaces.
GO:0030055
cell-substrate junction
is_a
epidermal attachment structure
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fibrous organelle
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hemi-adherens junction
related
trans-epithelial attachment
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