The Dawn of Barriology
The molecular architecture of Tight Junctions has gradually been unraveled in recent years, providing the basis for Barriology, the science of the barrier in multicellular organisms.
Tight Junctions: from simple barriers to multifunctional molecular gates
Epithelia and endothelia separate different tissue compartments and protect multicellular organisms from the outside world. This requires the formation of tight junctions, selective gates that control paracellular diffusion of ions and solutes.
Claudins with paracellular channel functions
In the liver, a claudin-2–based paracellular channel supplies Na+ and water to the perivenous region of the liver lobule to generate directional bile flow from the center to the periphery of the lobule.