Transmembrane proteins of tight junctions

Abstract

Tight junctions contribute to the paracellular barrier, the fence dividing plasma membranes, and signal transduction, acting as a multifunctional complex in vertebrate epithelial and endothelial cells. The identification and characterization of the transmembrane proteins of tight junctions, claudins, junctional adhesion molecules (JAMs), occludin and tricellulin, have led to insights into the molecular nature of tight junctions. We provide an overview of recent progress in studies on these proteins and highlight their roles and regulation, as well as their functional significance in human diseases.

Sensitive and Real-Time Method for Evaluating Corneal Barrier Considering Tear Flow

“…Some junctional proteins, occluding, claudins and tricellulin, can play an important role in the regulation of epithelial paracellular permeability. 14,15) The paracellular pathway of epithelial tissues is often evaluated using an electrophysiological method. TEER, in general, is sensitive to changes occurring in the paracellular permeability of epithelial tissues.…”

Epithelial NF-κB Enhances Transmucosal Fluid Movement by Altering Tight Junction Protein Composition after T Cell Activation

“…Claudins are essential components of TJs for establishing the paracellular barrier. 44 T cell activation also induced claudin-1 redistribution in wild-type but not in TG mice ( Figure 4D and see Supplemental Figure S2 at http://ajp.amjpathol.org). It is possible that lower bands identified represent claudin-2 due to sequence homology with claudin-1.…”

Molecular Determinants of the Interaction between Clostridium perfringens Enterotoxin Fragments and Claudin-3

“…TJ consist of transmembrane proteins, mainly the tetraspan proteins of the claudin family, as well as occludin and tricellulin (8). Other molecules associated with TJ include membranebound scaffolding and signaling proteins (9).…”