Continuous endocytic recycling of tight junction proteins: how and why?

Essays Biochem. 2012:53:41-54. doi: 10.1042/bse0530041.

Abstract

Tight junctions consist of many proteins, including transmembrane and associated cytoplasmic proteins, which act to provide a barrier regulating transport across epithelial and endothelial tissues. These junctions are dynamic structures that are able to maintain barrier function during tissue remodelling and rapidly alter it in response to extracellular signals. Individual components of tight junctions also show dynamic behaviour, including migration within the junction and exchange in and out of the junctions. In addition, it is becoming clear that some tight junction proteins undergo continuous endocytosis and recycling back to the plasma membrane. Regulation of endocytic trafficking of junctional proteins may provide a way of rapidly remodelling junctions and will be the focus of this chapter.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Endocytosis*
  • Endosomal Sorting Complexes Required for Transport / metabolism
  • Endosomes / physiology
  • Epithelial Cells / cytology
  • Epithelial Cells / metabolism
  • Epithelial Cells / physiology
  • Humans
  • Lysosomes / physiology
  • Tight Junction Proteins / metabolism*
  • Tight Junctions / metabolism

Substances

  • Endosomal Sorting Complexes Required for Transport
  • Tight Junction Proteins