When Separation Strengthens Ties

Helena Canever; François Sipieter; Nicolas Borghi

doi:10.1016/j.tcb.2019.12.002

When Separation Strengthens Ties

Trends Cell Biol. 2020 Mar;30(3):169-170. doi: 10.1016/j.tcb.2019.12.002. Epub 2020 Jan 15.

Authors

Helena Canever¹, François Sipieter¹, Nicolas Borghi²

Affiliations

¹ Université de Paris, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut Jacques Monod, 15 rue Hélène Brion, 75013 Paris, France.
² Université de Paris, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut Jacques Monod, 15 rue Hélène Brion, 75013 Paris, France. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 31954602
DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2019.12.002

Abstract

Phase separation underlies functional compartmentalization in living systems. Two recent studies (Beutel et al. and Schwayer et al.) show that zonula occludens (ZO) proteins of tight junctions (TJs) condense into compartments within the cytoplasm that display liquid properties. This ability to condense predicts normal TJ assembly and epithelial barrier function which are essential for vertebrate embryogenesis.

Keywords: phase separation; tight junctions; zonula occludens.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Epithelial Cells / metabolism
Humans
Models, Biological
Phase Transition*
Zebrafish / embryology
Zebrafish / metabolism
Zonula Occludens Proteins / metabolism

Substances

Zonula Occludens Proteins