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The tight junction: morphology to molecules

B R Stevenson1, B H Keon

  • 1Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. bruce.stevenson@ualberta.ca

Annual Review of Cell and Developmental Biology
|January 19, 1999
PubMed
Summary

The tight junction, a crucial cell barrier, is composed of at least ten proteins. Research is rapidly expanding on their roles in epithelial and endothelial cell functions.

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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Physiology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • The tight junction regulates the paracellular pathway between epithelial and endothelial cells.
  • It also establishes distinct apical and basolateral membrane compositions.
  • Its existence was hypothesized over a century ago, but molecular characterization is recent.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To discuss the molecular composition of the tight junction.
  • To explore the characteristics and interactions of tight junction proteins.
  • To investigate the potential physiological roles of these proteins.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current literature on tight junction proteins.
  • Analysis of protein families involved in tight junctions (e.g., tumor suppression, signal transduction, rab, Ras target proteins).

Main Results:

  • The tight junction comprises at least nine peripheral and one integral membrane protein.
  • Identified protein families include those related to tumor suppression, signal transduction, rab, and Ras targets.
  • These proteins interact to form the regulated barrier.

Conclusions:

  • The molecular understanding of tight junctions has significantly advanced.
  • Tight junction proteins play critical roles in barrier function and cell polarity.
  • Further research into their interactions and physiological roles is warranted.

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