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Related Concept Videos

Tight Junctions01:29

Tight Junctions

8.8K
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...
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Non-gated Ion Channels01:24

Non-gated Ion Channels

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Ion channels are specialized proteins on the plasma membrane that allow charged ions to pass down their electrochemical gradient. Their main function is to maintain the membrane potential which is critical for cell viability. These channels are either gated or non-gated and can transport more than a thousand ions within milliseconds for the cellular event to occur.
Compared to the gated ion channels, the non-gated channels, also known as leakage or passive channels, have no gating mechanism....
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Non-gated Ion Channels01:24

Non-gated Ion Channels

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Ion Channels01:19

Ion Channels

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The movement of ions like sodium, potassium, and calcium into and out of the cell is essential to maintain the electrochemical gradient in living cells. The ion channels—a class of membrane transport proteins—help maintain this ionic gradient for the smooth functioning of physiological activities such as maintaining cell size and volume, conducting nerve impulses, and gas and nutrient exchange.
Ion channels are specialized integral membrane proteins on the plasma membrane that allow...
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Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptor: Gating Mechanism01:30

Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptor: Gating Mechanism

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Ligand-gated ion channels are transmembrane proteins that play a vital role in intercellular communication and functions of the nervous system. They allow the influx of ions across the membrane once the neurotransmitter binds, allowing the subsequent transmission of electrical excitation across the neurons. Other ligand-gated ion channels, like the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor, permit anions like chloride into the cells on the binding of the GABA molecule. Their entry into the cell...
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Contact-dependent Signaling01:19

Contact-dependent Signaling

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Contact-dependent signaling, as the name suggests, requires that communicating cells be in direct contact with each other. This is achieved either through receptor-ligand interactions or by specialized cytoplasmic channels that allow the flow of small molecules between cells. In animal cells, channels called gap junctions facilitate contact-dependent signaling in certain tissues, whereas, plasmodesmata perform a similar function in plants.
Gap Junctions
In animal cells, gap junctions are formed...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 30, 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

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Claudin-2-dependent paracellular channels are dynamically gated.

Christopher R Weber1, Guo Hua Liang1, Yitang Wang1

  • 1Department of Pathology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, United States.

Elife
|November 17, 2015
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers measured electrical conductance across individual claudin-2 channels in tight junctions. This novel technique reveals claudin-2 forms gated, selective paracellular channels, offering new insights into epithelial barrier regulation.

Keywords:
barrier functionbiophysicscell biologyepitheliumhumanintestineion channelpatch clampstructural biologytight junction

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Area of Science:

  • Cell biology
  • Biophysics
  • Epithelial physiology

Background:

  • Intercellular tight junctions create selectively permeable epithelial barriers.
  • Measuring flux across individual tight junction channels has been a significant challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop and apply a novel technique for measuring conductance across single claudin-2 channels within tight junctions.
  • To characterize the biophysical properties and gating behavior of claudin-2 channels.

Main Methods:

  • Development of a trans-tight junction patch clamp technique.
  • Application to cultured canine renal tubule and human intestinal epithelial monolayers.
  • Analysis of channel conductance, selectivity, and kinetics.

Main Results:

  • Successfully measured single-channel conductance of approximately 90 pS for claudin-2 channels.
  • Demonstrated that claudin-2 channels are gated and exhibit specific size and charge selectivity.
  • Identified one open and two distinct closed states, with symmetrical and reversible conductance.

Conclusions:

  • Claudin-2 forms functional, gated paracellular channels.
  • Modulation of tight junction channel gating kinetics may represent a key mechanism in epithelial barrier regulation.