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Tight Junctions

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...

Overview of Cell-Cell Junctions

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 Junctions

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...

Adherens Junctions

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...

Gap Junctions

Gap Junctions

Multicellular organisms employ a variety of ways for cells to communicate with each other. Gap junctions are specialized proteins that form pores between neighboring cells in animals, connecting the cytoplasm between the two, and allowing for the exchange of molecules and ions. They are found in a wide range of invertebrate and vertebrate species, mediate numerous functions including cell differentiation and development, and are associated with numerous human diseases, including cardiac and...

Gap Junctions

Gap Junctions

The cytoplasm of adjacent animal cells can exchange small molecules, ions, and secondary messengers via the communication channels which form the gap junctions. These junctions comprise a few hundred to thousands of molecular channels, each made of two halves, called the connexon hemichannel. A connexon is a hexamer of six transmembrane connexin proteins, which assemble radially, thus forming a pore or channel in the center. One connexon hemichannel docks with a corresponding connexon on the...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 26, 2026

Sensing of Barrier Tissue Disruption with an Organic Electrochemical Transistor

Sensing of Barrier Tissue Disruption with an Organic Electrochemical Transistor

Published on: February 10, 2014

Enterocytes' tight junctions: From molecules to diseases.

Stelios F Assimakopoulos¹, Ismini Papageorgiou, Aristidis Charonis

¹Stelios F Assimakopoulos, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Patras, Patras 26504, Greece.

World Journal of Gastrointestinal Pathophysiology

|December 21, 2011

Summary

Tight junctions (TJs) seal cells and regulate paracellular permeability. This review details TJ macromolecular composition, assembly, function, and their role in diseases like inflammatory bowel disease and diabetes.

Keywords:

Claudins Intestinal permeability Junctional adhesion molecule Occludin Tight junctions Tricellulin

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 26, 2026

Sensing of Barrier Tissue Disruption with an Organic Electrochemical Transistor

Sensing of Barrier Tissue Disruption with an Organic Electrochemical Transistor

Published on: February 10, 2014

Area of Science:

Cell Biology
Molecular Biology
Physiology

Background:

Tight junctions (TJs) are crucial intercellular structures forming epithelial barriers.
Their electron microscopic structure is known, but macromolecular composition is recently elucidated.
TJs regulate paracellular transport of ions, molecules, and cells.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the major macromolecular components of tight junctions.
To examine associated intracellular plaque macromolecules and their interactions.
To discuss the functional significance and disease relevance of tight junctions, particularly in the intestine.

Main Methods:

Literature review of TJ macromolecular composition.
Analysis of TJ protein interactions and assembly mechanisms.
Discussion of TJ alterations in various disease states.

Main Results:

Identified major TJ components (occludin, claudins, JAM, tricellulin) and plaque proteins (ZO-1-3, AF-6, cingulin, 7H6).
Highlighted protein interactions critical for TJ assembly.
Detailed the functional significance of TJs and their role in intestinal and extraintestinal diseases.

Conclusions:

Tight junctions are complex structures with diverse macromolecular players.
Alterations in intestinal TJs are implicated in inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, diabetes, and autoimmune disorders.
Disrupted TJs can lead to bacterial translocation and systemic inflammation, contributing to disease progression.