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On the self-association potential of transmembrane tight junction proteins - Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences

  • ️Piontek, J.
  • ️Thu Feb 02 2006

Abstract.

Tight junctions seal intercellular clefts via membrane-related strands, hence, maintaining important organ functions. We investigated the self-association of strand-forming transmembrane tight junction proteins. The regulatory tight junction protein occludin was differently tagged and cotransfected in eucaryotic cells. These occludins colocalized within the plasma membrane of the same cell, coprecipitated and exhibited fluorescence resonance energy transfer. Differently tagged strand-forming claudin-5 also colocalized in the plasma membrane of the same cell and showed fluorescence resonance energy transfer. This demonstrates self-association in intact cells both of occludin and claudin-5 in one plasma membrane. In search of dimerizing regions of occludin, dimerization of its cytosolic C-terminal coiledcoil domain was identified. In claudin-5, the second extracellular loop was detected as a dimer. Since the transmembrane junctional adhesion molecule also is known to dimerize, the assumption that homodimerization of transmembrane tight junction proteins may serve as a common structural feature in tight junction assembly is supported.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie, Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13125, Berlin, Germany

    I. E. Blasig†, L. Winkler†, B. Lassowski, S. L. Mueller, N. Zuleger, E. Krause, G. Krause & J. Piontek

  2. Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, Universität Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany

    K. Gast

  3. Max-Planck-Institute for Infection Biology, Berlin, Germany

    M. Kolbe

Authors

  1. I. E. Blasig†

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  2. L. Winkler†

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  3. B. Lassowski

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  4. S. L. Mueller

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  5. N. Zuleger

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  6. E. Krause

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  7. G. Krause

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  8. K. Gast

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  9. M. Kolbe

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  10. J. Piontek

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Corresponding author

Correspondence to I. E. Blasig†.

Additional information

Received 6 October 2005; received after revision 14 December 2005; accepted 27 December 2005

†These authors contributed equally to this work.

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Blasig†, I.E., Winkler†, L., Lassowski, B. et al. On the self-association potential of transmembrane tight junction proteins. Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 63, 505–514 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-005-5472-x

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  • Published: 02 February 2006

  • Issue Date: February 2006

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-005-5472-x

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