The molecular physiology of tight junction pores.
Tight junctions form selective barriers that regulate paracellular transport across epithelia. A large family of tetraspanning cell-cell adhesion proteins called claudins create the barrier and regulate electrical resistance, size, and ionic charge selectivity. Study of inherited human claudin diseases and the outcome of the genetic manupulation of claudins in mice, Drosophila, and Caenorhabditis elegans are furthering our understanding of paracellular physiology.
Van Itallie
Christina M
CM
Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA. jandersn@med.unc.edu
Anderson
James Melvin
JM
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D019108:Tight Junctions / Q000502:physiology*
D008565:Membrane Proteins