Abstract
Claudin-1 is a tight junction transmembrane protein. Its localization in the maturation ameloblasts of rat incisors was examined by immunofluorescence microscopy. Distal junction area of ruffle-ended ameloblasts (RA) and the Golgi apparatus of a sub-population of smooth-ended ameloblasts (SA) and RAs stained positive with anti-claudin-1 antibodies. Since it has been shown that ameloblasts repeatedly alternate between an SA and an RA morphology during enamel maturation, the presence of claudin-1 in the Golgi cisterns may indicate the presence of tight junction precursors before transportation to the junctional area.
Highlights
Mammalian epithelial cells have junctional complexes between cells that are composed of adherens junctions, desmosomes, and tight junctions (Farquhar and Palade, 1963)
In this paper we have further clarified the role of claudin and tight junction formation during cyclic alternation of ameloblasts between an ruffle-ended ameloblasts (RA) and an smooth-ended ameloblasts (SA) morphology in the process of enamel maturation in rat incisors
We found that claudin-1, which is critical for tight junction formation, is localized in distal junction area in RAs
Summary
Mammalian epithelial cells have junctional complexes between cells that are composed of adherens junctions, desmosomes, and tight junctions (Farquhar and Palade, 1963). Tight junctions are responsible for sealing of the intercellular space and for controlling paracellular transport (Tsukita et al, 2008; Lal-Nag and Morin, 2009). Tight junctions are composed of several protein components, among which claudins are essential for their formation and function (Tsukita et al, 2008). Humans have claudin genes, whereas rats and mice have genes (Lal-Nag and Morin, 2009). Dynamics of tight junction proteins are not fully understood (González-Mariscal et al, 2007; Matter and Balda, 2007; Shen et al, 2008; Steed et al, 2010). Some dynamics of exogenously expressed claudin-1 and internalization of claudins via small vesicles from tight junction are reported (Sasaki et al, 2003; Matsuda et al, 2004), no information has been given on the recruitment of claudins from cytoplasm to tight junction
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