title: Mammalian tight junctions in the regulation of epithelial differentiation and proliferation.
abstract: Tight junctions are important for the permeability properties of epithelial and endothelial barriers as they restrict diffusion along the paracellular space. Recent observations have revealed that tight junctions also function in the regulation of epithelial proliferation and differentiation. They harbour evolutionarily conserved protein complexes that regulate polarisation and junction assembly. Tight junctions also recruit signalling proteins that participate in the regulation of cell proliferation and differentiation. These signalling proteins include components that affect established signalling cascades and dual localisation proteins that can associate with junctions as well as travel to the nucleus where they regulate gene expression.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cell Biology, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL, UK. k.matter@ucl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matter
authors.forename: Saima
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aijaz
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsapara
authors.forename: Maria S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Balda
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability / Q000502:physiology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D008322:Mammals; D008954:Models, Biological; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D019108:Tight Junctions / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D014157:Transcription Factors