New Insights into Studying Tight Junctions
Abstract: Claudins are integral membran proteins at tight junctions and consist of at least 24 members. Because claudins show a tissue-specific distribution, the tissue-specific morphological features and physiological properties of tight junctions may be determined by the combination and mixing ratio of claudin species in the tissue. Here, we introduce our recent results and task for the future obtained from the analyses of claudin-claudin interactions and structure and function of tight junctions.
Key words: tight junction, claudin, freeze fracture, coculture