I T is seven years since the identification of ZO-1, the first protein localized at tight junctions (TJs) t (60). Two years later, a second TJ-associated protein, cingulin, was characterized (9). More recently, two additional proteins, ZO-2 (26) and 7H6 (68), have been added to the list. All these proteins belong to the cytoplasmic "plaque" domain of TJs, based on morphological and/or biochemic...

The tight junction protein ZO-1 belongs to a family of multidomain proteins known as the membrane-associated guanylate kinase homologs (MAGUKs). ZO-1 has been demonstrated to interact with the transmembrane protein occludin, a second tight junction-specific MAGUK, ZO-2, and F-actin, although the nature and functional significance of these interactions is poorly understood. To further elucidate ...

Entamoeba (E.) histolytica trophozoites initiate amebiasis through invasion into the enteric mucosa. It was our aim to understand the molecular interactions between amebic trophozoites and enterocytes during the early steps of invasion. Trophozoites of E. histolytica strain HM1:IMSS were seeded on the apical side of enteric T84 cell layers, which were established on filters in two-compartment c...

The dynamic rearrangement of cell-cell junctions such as tight junctions and adherens junctions is a critical step in various cellular processes, including establishment of epithelial cell polarity and developmental patterning. Tight junctions are mediated by molecules such as occludin and its associated ZO-1 and ZO-2, and adherens junctions are mediated by adhesion molecules such as cadherin a...

Zonula occludens (ZO)-1 was the first tight junction protein to be cloned and has been implicated as an important scaffold protein. It contains multiple domains that bind a diverse set of junction proteins. However, the molecular functions of ZO-1 and related proteins such as ZO-2 and ZO-3 have remained unclear. We now show that gene silencing of ZO-1 causes a delay of approximately 3 h in tigh...

Fagopyrum cymosum (Trev.) Meisn (Fag) is a herb rhizome which has been widely used to treat diseases. To investigate the effects and mechanisms of the Fag on irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), in vivo neonatal pups maternal separation (NMS) combined with intracolonic infusion of acetic acid (AA) was employed to establish IBS rat models. Fag reduced their visceral hyperalgesia and the whole gut per...

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is the critical structure for preventing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) trafficking into the brain. Specific HIV proteins, such as Tat protein, can contribute to the dysfunction of tight junctions at the BBB and HIV entry into the brain. Tat is released by HIV-1-infected cells and can interact with a variety of cell surface receptors activating several signal t...

We present new observational data on the small scale structure of the Taurus Molecular Cloud 1 (TMC-1) in the regime of 0.02-0.04 PC and 0.04 -0.6 Mo. Our analysis is based on high resolution, high signal-to-noise, observations of an 8’x8’ area centered on the “cyanopolyyne peak” in the SE part of the TMC-1 ridge. The observations were made in the CCS 22 GHz and 45 GHz transitions using NASA’s ...

Tight junctions create a regulated paracellular barrier to the movement of water, solutes, and immune cells between both epithelial and endothelial cells. Recent progress has been made in identifying the proteins that create this barrier. The transmembrane protein occludin is an excellent candidate for the sealing protein and is bound on the cytoplasmic membrane surface to the proteins ZO-1 and...

Tight junctions (TJs) of cells expressing simple epithelial polarity have been extensively studied, but less is known about TJs of cells expressing complex polarity. In this paper we analyzed, TJs of four different lines, that form bile canaliculi (BC) and express typical hepatocyte polarity; WIF-B9, 11-3, Can 3-1, Can 10. Striking differences were observed in claudin expression. None of the ce...