What is it about?
Cell contact contributes to inhibition of proliferation but epithelial cells continue to proliferate after contact reducing in size until reaching a critical point at which proliferation stops. In this manuscript we show that this proliferation after contact is necessary for proper formation of tight junctions. Surprisingly, the tight junction protein occludin contributes to the control of this process through a phosphorylation event.
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Why is it important?
This provides new insight into the process by which tissues for barriers. Formation of barriers is critical for multicellular organisms.
Perspectives
The role of occludin has been confounding for many years. It is the first transmembrane tight junction protein identified but its role has been unclear. This publication is part of a series of recent manuscripts that reveal the protein contributes a role in regulation of barrier properties through phosphorylation. This study shows that toccludin contributes a surprising role in control of proliferation after contact which is necessary for proper formation of tight junctions. To our knowledge, this is the first study in which a single point mutation of a tight junction protein prevents barrier formation.
Dr. David A. Antonetti
University of Michigan
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Occludin S471 Phosphorylation Contributes to Epithelial Monolayer Maturation, Molecular and Cellular Biology, May 2016, ASM Journals,
DOI: 10.1128/mcb.00053-16.
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