ZO-2, a tight junction scaffold protein involved in the regulation of cell proliferation and apoptosis.
ZO-2 is a membrane-associated guanylate kinase homologue (MAGUK) tight protein associated with the cytoplasmic surface of tight junctions. Here, we describe how ZO-2 is a multidomain molecule that binds to a variety of cell signaling proteins, to the actin cytoskeleton, and to gap, tight, and adherens junction proteins. In sparse cultures, ZO-2 is present at the nucleus and associates with molecules active in gene transcription and pre-mRNA processing. ZO-2 inhibits the Wnt signaling pathway, reduces cell proliferation, and promotes apoptosis; its absence, mutation, or overexpression is present in various human diseases, including deafness and cancer.
Center of Research and Advanced Studies, Cinvestav, Department of Physiology, Biophysics and Neuroscience, Mexico DF, Mexico. lorenza@fisio.cinvestav.mx
Lorenza
L
Gonzalez-Mariscal
Pablo
P
Bautista
Susana
S
Lechuga
Miguel
M
Quiros
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D051528:Guanylate Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D034521:Nuclear Matrix-Associated Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D019108:Tight Junctions / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D062827:Zonula Occludens-2 Protein / Q000378:metabolism*
D008565:Membrane Proteins; D034521:Nuclear Matrix-Associated Proteins; D062827:Zonula Occludens-2 Protein; D051528:Guanylate Kinases