Tight Junctions

Tight Junctions provides a state-of-the-art view on Tight Junctions (TJs). Starting with an analysis of the evolutionary development of a transporting epithelium in early metazoans, the book describes the current TJ structure and function information, including the present day evidence supporting the presence of ion channels within TJs. Particular emphasis is given to the lessons learned from cell culture models, mutant mice and heritable human diseases. To highlight the modern vision of TJs as signaling complexes, the book discusses the establishment of TJs during development, the shuttling of TJ proteins between the plasma membrane and the nucleus, and the role of TJ proteins in cell cycle progression and cancer.