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Dynamic properties of the tight junction barrier
Author(s) -
Weber Christopher R.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2012.06528.x
Subject(s) - tight junction , paracellular transport , claudin , septate junctions , chemistry , tight binding , conductance , barrier function , biophysics , gap junction , physics , intracellular , permeability (electromagnetism) , biology , membrane , microbiology and biotechnology , condensed matter physics , biochemistry , electronic structure , computational chemistry
A principal role of tight junctions is to seal the apical intercellular space and limit paracellular flux of ions and molecules. Despite the fact that tight junctions form heavily cross‐linked structures, functional studies have fostered the hypothesis that the tight junction barrier is dynamic and defined by opening and closing events. However, it has been impossible to directly measure tight junction barrier function with sufficient resolution to detect such events. Nevertheless, recent electrophysiological and sieving studies have provided tremendous insight into the presence of at least two pathways of trans‐tight junction flux: a high‐capacity ion‐selective “pore” pathway and a low‐capacity “leak” pathway that allows the passage of macromolecules. Furthermore, it is now known that the tight junction molecular structure is highly dynamic and that dynamics are correlated with barrier function. Taken together, these data support a dynamic model of tight junction conductance and suggest that regulation of tight junction openings and closings may provide sensitive means of barrier regulation.