Department of Cell Biology, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK.
Trends Cell Biol. 2010 Mar;20(3):142-9. doi: 10.1016/j.tcb.2009.12.002. Epub 2010 Jan 12.
Tight junctions are intercellular adhesion complexes in vertebrates that are required for the formation of functional epithelial and endothelial barriers. Their morphological appearance and biochemical composition, that includes large multimeric protein complexes, have long fostered the belief that they are relatively rigid, non-dynamic structures. Recent observations now suggest that at least some junctional elements and proteins can be very dynamic, and that such dynamic properties are important for different tight junction functions ranging from the regulation of paracellular permeability to junction-associated signalling mechanisms that guide cell behaviour. Combining such dynamic properties with existing tight junction models will help us to advance our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that underlie the functional properties of tight junctions.
紧密连接是脊椎动物细胞间的黏附复合物，对于功能性上皮和内皮屏障的形成是必需的。它们的形态外观和生化组成，包括大型多聚体蛋白复合物，长期以来一直使人们相信它们是相对刚性的、非动态的结构。最近的观察结果表明，至少一些连接元件和蛋白质可能是非常动态的，这种动态特性对于不同的紧密连接功能非常重要，范围从调节细胞旁通透性到指导细胞行为的连接相关信号机制。将这种动态特性与现有的紧密连接模型结合起来，将有助于我们深入了解紧密连接功能特性的分子机制。
