Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 28, 2026

Aip1p Dynamics Are Altered by the R256H Mutation in Actin
Published on: July 30, 2014
Cofilin mediates tight-junction opening by redistributing actin and tight-junction proteins
Yoko Nagumo1, Junkyu Han, Amor Bellila
1Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8572, Japan. nag@agbi.tsukuba.ac.jp
Abstract:
We previously found that capsaicin induces tight-junction (TJ) opening accompanied with cofilin dephosphorylation/activation in intestinal Caco-2 cells. Here, we examined the role of cofilin in TJ regulation, and analyzed the structural events that lead to TJ opening. We transfected Caco-2 cells with wild-type cofilin [cofilin(wt)] or its constitutively active mutant cofilin(S3A). We found that the decreases in transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) was slower in cofilin(wt) transfectants and faster in cofilin(S3A) mutants than in vector controls. Moreover, cofilin dephosphorylation corresponded to the rate of TER decrease. Capsaicin treatment changed the localization of TJ proteins and altered the F-actin structure, but in a manner different from those depend on myosin light chain kinase (MLCK). These results strongly support the importance of cofilin in TJ opening, suggesting cofilin as a target for TJ permeability regulation in epithelial cells.
Related Concept Videos
Tight Junctions
Mechanism of Filopodia Formation
Their main function is to guide migrating cells during normal tissue morphogenesis or cancer metastasis by recognizing and making initial contacts with the extracellular matrix. However, they can also act as stationary cell anchors or help to establish communication...
Actin Filament Depolymerization
In F-actin, the ADF/cofilin proteins...
Cytoskeletal Accessory Proteins
Formation of Higher-order Actin Filaments
The high-order actin networks...
Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions
Some...

