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Related Concept Videos

Tight Junctions01:29

Tight Junctions

Tight junctions are molecular seals between cells that prevent the leaking of fluids, ions, and other small solutes across cavities and compartments in multicellular organisms. They are mainly composed of claudin and occludin transmembrane proteins, and other proteins such as tricellulin and JAM (junctional adhesion molecule). All these proteins are 4-pass transmembrane proteins, except JAM, which is a single-pass transmembrane protein belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily. The...
Adherens Junctions01:24

Adherens Junctions

Strong contact points between adjacent cells anchor them to each other, forming tissues. Such anchoring junctions are of two types –  adherens junctions and desmosomes. Adherens junctions are abundant in tissues such as  epithelium and endothelium, forming a continuous zone of adhesion called the adhesion belt. In other tissues, such as  heart muscle, they appear as clusters, linking the cells to produce coordinated heart muscle contraction.
Adherens Junctions are Dynamic
The endothelial cells...
Tension Response at Adherens Junctions01:26

Tension Response at Adherens Junctions

The adherens junctions that anchor cells together are multi-protein complexes that dynamically adapt to mechanical stimuli such as tensile forces and shear stress. Mechanosensory proteins in these junctions can sense such mechanical stimuli and undergo a shift in their conformation, resulting in an altered function — a process called mechanotransduction.
α-Catenin as a Mechanosensory Protein
The α-catenin of adherens junctions is an allosteric protein with three VH (vinculin homology) domains...
Overview of Cell-Cell Junctions01:14

Overview of Cell-Cell Junctions

The complex three-dimensional arrangement of cells in any multicellular organism is defined and maintained by interactions of cells with each other and the extracellular matrix. Cell-cell junctions are specialized structures where the multi-protein complexes on one cell interact with the multi-protein complexes on another  cell. These cell junctions are classified  into three main types based on their function — occluding, anchoring, and gap junctions.
Occluding or Tight Junctions
Tight...
Overview of Cell-Cell Junctions01:14

Overview of Cell-Cell Junctions

The complex three-dimensional arrangement of cells in any multicellular organism is defined and maintained by interactions of cells with each other and the extracellular matrix. Cell-cell junctions are specialized structures where the multi-protein complexes on one cell interact with the multi-protein complexes on another  cell. These cell junctions are classified  into three main types based on their function — occluding, anchoring, and gap junctions.
Occluding or Tight Junctions
Tight...
Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions01:17

Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions

Integrins act both as extracellular input receivers and as intracellular processing activators. As their name suggests, integrins are entirely integrated into the membrane structure. Their hydrophobic membrane-spanning regions interact with the phospholipid bilayer's hydrophobic region. These membrane receptors provide extracellular attachment sites for effectors like hormones and growth factors. They activate intracellular response cascades when their effectors are bound and active.
Some...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 12, 2026

Functional Assessment of Intestinal Tight Junction Barrier and Ion Permeability in Native Tissue by Ussing Chamber Technique
06:43

Functional Assessment of Intestinal Tight Junction Barrier and Ion Permeability in Native Tissue by Ussing Chamber Technique

Published on: May 26, 2021

Ouabain modulates epithelial cell tight junction.

Isabel Larre1, Amparo Lazaro, Ruben G Contreras

  • 1Department of Physiology, Center for Research and Advanced Studies, 07300 Mexico DF, Mexico.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|June 11, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Low concentrations of ouabain modulate epithelial cell tight junctions. This cardiac glycoside affects cell-cell contact sealing and claudin protein levels via ERK1/2 and c-Src signaling pathways.

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Last Updated: Jun 12, 2026

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06:43

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Published on: May 26, 2021

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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Physiology

Background:

  • High ouabain concentrations cause epithelial cell detachment by internalizing cell adhesion molecules.
  • This suggests ouabain may influence cell-cell contacts at lower, non-toxic concentrations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of low-dose ouabain on tight junction (TJ) integrity in epithelial cells.
  • To determine the signaling pathways involved in ouabain's modulation of TJs.

Main Methods:

  • Measurement of transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) and 3 kDa dextran flux (J(DEX)) to assess TJ sealing.
  • Analysis of claudin 1, 2, and 4 expression and localization.
  • Investigation of ERK1/2 and c-Src signaling pathways.

Main Results:

  • Low ouabain concentrations (10-50 nM) modulated TJ sealing without affecting K(+) balance.
  • Changes in TER and J(DEX) correlated with altered levels and distribution of claudins 1, 2, and 4.
  • ERK1/2 and c-Src pathways mediated these effects, with distinct impacts on different TJ components.

Conclusions:

  • Low-dose ouabain acts as a modulator of epithelial cell-cell contacts, specifically targeting tight junctions.
  • Ouabain influences TJ sealing and claudin dynamics through specific intracellular signaling cascades.