Tight junctions are specialized regions of cell-cell contact that are particularly abundant in luminal epithelial cell sheets. In freeze-fracture electron micrographs, tight junctions are visualized as belt-like bands of anastomosing sealing strands (TJ strands) that completely encircle the lateral surfaces of each cell. TJ strands on adjacent cells are presumed to interact with each other to form a sort of "molecular gasket" that prevents ions, water and other molecules from leaking between cells and thus, from one side of the sheet to the other. In addition to this so-called "barrier" function, the "fence" function of tight junctions plays an important role in maintaining epithelial cell-polarity by blocking the diffusion of membrane proteins between apical (luminal) and basolateral cell surfaces. Confinement of, for example, the glucose symport to apical surfaces allows glucose to be transported vectorially from the lumen, through the cell, and into the bloodstream. Several peripheral membrane proteins are associated with tight junctions including ZO-1, ZO-2, ZO-3 (members of membrane- associated guanylate-kinase family), cingulin, the 7H6 antigen, Rab-3b, symplekin. While their precise functions are not known, roles for these proteins have been suggested in tight junction assembly and maintenance; signal transduction; and the regulation of tight junction permeability.
Applications:
Suitable for use in Western Blot and Immunohistochemistry. Other applications not tested.
Recommended Dilution:
Immunohistochemistry (Formalin fixed paraffin embedded): 15ug/ml
Optimal dilutions to be determined by the researcher.
Storage and Stability:
May be stored at 4 degrees C for short-term only. Aliquot to avoid repeated freezing and thawing. Store at -20 degrees C. Aliquots are stable for at least 12 months. For maximum recovery of product, centrifuge the original vial after thawing and prior to removing the cap.
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