18 Questions
What is the main function of tight junctions between epithelial cells?
To prevent the passage of water and solutes between cells
What is the approximate diameter of tight junction pores in humans?
4-8 Å
What is the role of spectrin in tight junctions?
To stabilize the tight junctions
What causes the 'leak' in tight junctions?
The lack of ATP
What is the main component of tight junctions that fuse the outer surfaces of adjacent plasma membranes together?
Occludin and claudins
What is the role of tight junctions in leaky epithelia?
To allow for the free movement of water and solutes
What is the primary function of adhesive glycoproteins in the ECM?
To attach cells to the matrix
Which of the following tissues has the highest abundance of ECM?
Connective tissue
What is the primary function of the ECM in providing tissue stability?
By linking areas of cells together
What is the role of fibronectin in the ECM?
To attach cells to the matrix
What is the primary function of the paracellular pathway in epithelial cells?
To allow the passage of selective molecules
What is the role of cell junctions in tissues?
To provide contact points between cells
What is the primary function of tight junctions in epithelial cells?
To provide a barrier to the passage of water and solutes between cells
What is the characteristic of brain microvessel endothelial cells (BMEC) that restricts the passage of compounds from the blood into the brain?
Presence of tight junctions between cells
What is the purpose of tight junctions in the digestive tract?
To prevent the passage of digestive enzymes and waste products into underlying tissues
What is the consequence of tight junctions in the transcellular pathway of glucose transport in intestinal epithelial cells?
Glucose is prevented from being transported through the basolateral surface
What is the effect of tight junctions on the blood-brain barrier (BBB)?
Impedes the penetration of potential therapeutic agents into the brain
What is the role of tight junctions in the isolation of apical and basolateral domains of the plasma membrane?
To separate and isolate the domains from each other
Test your knowledge on tight junctions, which are made up of web-like strands of transmembrane proteins like occludin and claudins. Learn about their role in fusing adjacent plasma membranes, preventing passage of substances, accounting for electrical resistance, and isolating different membrane domains.
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