Cell–cell recognition

<p>In <a href="/facts/Cellular_biology/kdIBGHub">cellular biology</a>, cell–cell recognition is a <a href="/facts/Cell_(biology)/bLM9UQvy">cell</a>'s ability to distinguish one type of neighboring cell from another.  This phenomenon occurs when complementary molecules on opposing cell surfaces meet. A <a href="/facts/Receptor_(biochemistry)/tjTAC76a">receptor</a> on one cell surface binds to its specific <a href="/facts/Ligand/6etB3qeW">ligand</a> on a nearby cell, initiating a cascade of events which regulate cell behaviors ranging from simple adhesion to complex <a href="/facts/Cellular_differentiation/bCVqUG7w">cellular differentiation</a>.  Like other cellular functions, cell–cell recognition is impacted by <a href="/facts/Mutation/Ee4NnWbY">detrimental mutations</a> in the <a href="/facts/Gene/e1swwPY6">genes</a> and <a href="/facts/Protein/Jxmagu3E">proteins</a> involved and is subject to error.  The biological events that unfold due to cell–cell recognition are important for animal development, microbiomes, and human medicine.
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Cell–cell recognition open-in-new

Cell–cell recognition