Molecular complexity of vertebrate tight junctions (Review)

Mol Membr Biol. 2002 Apr-Jun;19(2):103-12. doi: 10.1080/09687680210129236.

Abstract

Separation of distinct body, organ and tissue compartments, and maintenance of epithelial cell polarity require tight junctions (TJ)-cell-cell junctions located in the apicolateral regions of epithelial and endothelial cells. Studies on the protein components of vertebrate TJ have revealed an intricate network of membrane, sub-membrane, cytoskeletal, and signalling molecules. How these molecules functionally interact to provide TJ with their functions, and what roles these molecules play in control of cell growth and differentiation is a fundamental problem in cell biology.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / metabolism
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / metabolism
  • Coxsackie and Adenovirus Receptor-Like Membrane Protein
  • Guanylate Kinases
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Junctional Adhesion Molecules
  • Kinesins / metabolism
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Minor Histocompatibility Antigens
  • Myosins / metabolism
  • Nucleoside-Phosphate Kinase / metabolism
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase
  • Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases / metabolism
  • Protein Kinase C / metabolism
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
  • Proteins / metabolism
  • Receptors, Virus / metabolism
  • Tight Junctions / metabolism*
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / metabolism
  • WNK Lysine-Deficient Protein Kinase 1

Substances

  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules
  • Clmp protein, rat
  • Coxsackie and Adenovirus Receptor-Like Membrane Protein
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Junctional Adhesion Molecules
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Minor Histocompatibility Antigens
  • Mpdz protein, rat
  • Proteins
  • Receptors, Virus
  • Transcription Factors
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • afd-1 protein, C elegans
  • par-6 protein, C elegans
  • PAR-3 protein, C elegans
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • WNK Lysine-Deficient Protein Kinase 1
  • Wnk1 protein, rat
  • PKC-3 protein
  • Protein Kinase C
  • Nucleoside-Phosphate Kinase
  • Guanylate Kinases
  • Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase
  • Myosins
  • Kinesins