Rho protein regulates tight junctions and perijunctional actin organization in polarized epithelia.
The rho family of GTP-binding proteins regulates actin filament organization. In unpolarized mammalian cells, rho proteins regulate the assembly of actin-containing stress fibers at the cell-matrix interface. Polarized epithelial cells, in contrast, are tall and cylindrical with well developed intercellular tight junctions that permit them to behave as biologic barriers. We report that rho regulates filamentous actin organization preferentially in the apical pole of polarized intestinal epithelial cells and, in so doing, influences the organization and permeability of the associated apical tight junctions. Thus, barrier function, which is an essential characteristic of columnar epithelia, is regulated by rho.
D036002:ADP Ribose Transferases / Q000378:metabolism; D000199:Actins / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001905:Botulinum Toxins; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002450:Cell Communication; D016764:Cell Polarity / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007422:Intestines / Q000166:cytology*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D019108:Tight Junctions / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D062826:Zonula Occludens-1 Protein; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins; D000075024:rhoC GTP-Binding Protein
D000199:Actins; D015820:Cadherins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C569042:TJP1 protein, human; D062826:Zonula Occludens-1 Protein; D036002:ADP Ribose Transferases; C063007:exoenzyme C3, Clostridium botulinum; D001905:Botulinum Toxins; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; C066690:RHOC protein, human; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins; D000075024:rhoC GTP-Binding Protein