Matter K, Balda M S
Department of Cell Biology, University of Geneva, Switzerland.
Int Rev Cytol. 1999;186:117-46. doi: 10.1016/s0074-7696(08)61052-9.
The tight junction or zonula occludens is the most apical structure of the epithelial junctional complex. Tight junctions from semipermeable intercellular diffusion barriers that control paracellular diffusion in a regulated manner. This intercellular junction also acts as an intramembrane fence that prevents the intermixing of apical and basolateral lipids in the exocytoplasmic leaflet of the plasma membrane. Moreover, evidence suggests that tight junction components participate in the regulation of cell growth and differentiation. Occludin was the first identified transmembrane protein of this intercellular junction and received much attention since its molecular characterization. This review discusses experiments that were done with occludin and how they influenced our current thinking of the molecular functioning of tight junctions.
紧密连接又称闭锁小带，是上皮连接复合体中最顶端的结构。紧密连接形成半透性的细胞间扩散屏障，以一种受调控的方式控制细胞旁扩散。这种细胞间连接还充当膜内栅栏，防止质膜外胞质小叶中顶端和基底外侧脂质的混合。此外，有证据表明紧密连接成分参与细胞生长和分化的调控。闭合蛋白是该细胞间连接中首个被鉴定的跨膜蛋白，自其分子特征被描述以来备受关注。本综述讨论了针对闭合蛋白所开展的实验，以及这些实验如何影响了我们目前对紧密连接分子功能的认识。
