Tight junctions (blue dots) between cells are connected areas of the plasma membrane that stitch cells together. Adherens junctions (red dots) join the actin filaments of neighboring cells together.

Tight junctions must be able to adapt to cell shape change and still be able to seal the gaps," explains Prof. Honigmann, chair of Biophysics and research group leader at the BIOTEC.

More information: Thanh Phuong Nguyen et al, Tight junction membrane proteins regulate the mechanical resistance of the apical junctional complex, Journal of Cell Biology (2024). DOI: 10.1083/jcb.

The mechanisms that cause these symptoms are not fully understood. The stress of heat and oxidative damage during exercise causes disruption to intestinal epithelial cell tight junction proteins ...

This model is further supported by findings in the past few years that the desmosome–gap junction, which coexists with tight junction and basal ES at the BTB, also has a crucial role in the ...