Final answer:
Beta-catenin is involved in adherens junctions, where it helps link cadherins to actin filaments, supporting cell adhesion and tissue structure.
Step-by-step explanation:
Beta-catenin binds at adherens junctions, which are one type of anchoring junction. Adherens junctions are crucial for maintaining the structure of epithelial tissues and employ cadherins as their adhesion molecules. Cadherins are integral transmembrane proteins that connect to beta-catenin and other catenins inside the cell, which then link to actin filaments, forming a complex that helps in cell adhesion and the maintenance of tissue architecture. This is in contrast to desmosomes and hemidesmosomes, which are involved in connecting intermediate filaments rather than actin, and gap junctions, which facilitate communication between cells rather than providing structural adhesion.