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The C. elegans Intestine As a Model for Intercellular Lumen Morphogenesis and In Vivo Polarized Membrane Biogenesis at the Single-cell Level: Labeling by Antibody Staining, RNAi Loss-of-function Analysis and Imaging
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Tight junctions and cell polarity

Kunyoo Shin1, Vanessa C Fogg, Ben Margolis

  • 1Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.

Annual Review of Cell and Developmental Biology
|June 15, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Tight junctions are crucial for cell adhesion and function. These structures, involving specific proteins, are essential for establishing and maintaining cell polarity in epithelial tissues.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Epithelial Biology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Tight junctions mediate cell adhesion and regulate paracellular permeability in epithelial tissues.
  • They also act as barriers, preventing diffusion between apical and basolateral membrane domains.
  • Recent studies highlight the role of tight junction proteins in apico-basal polarity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of tight junction proteins in the establishment and maintenance of epithelial cell polarity.
  • To understand the molecular mechanisms underlying cell polarization.
  • To explore the function of conserved multiprotein complexes at the tight junction.

Main Methods:

  • Genetic studies in invertebrates and vertebrates.
  • Biochemical analyses of tight junction proteins.
  • Investigation of multiprotein complexes involved in epithelial cell polarization.

Main Results:

  • Tight junction proteins are critical for establishing and maintaining apico-basal polarity.
  • Evolutionarily conserved multiprotein complexes form at tight junctions.
  • These complexes regulate epithelial architecture during polarization.

Conclusions:

  • Tight junctions are central to epithelial cell function and polarity.
  • Understanding the regulation of polarity proteins at tight junctions is key to deciphering cell polarization mechanisms.
  • Further research into these protein complexes will advance knowledge of epithelial architecture.

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