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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America logoLink to Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
. 1995 Nov 7;92(23):10629–10633. doi: 10.1073/pnas.92.23.10629

Rho protein regulates tight junctions and perijunctional actin organization in polarized epithelia.

A Nusrat 1, M Giry 1, J R Turner 1, S P Colgan 1, C A Parkos 1, D Carnes 1, E Lemichez 1, P Boquet 1, J L Madara 1
PMCID: PMC40665  PMID: 7479854

Abstract

The rho family of GTP-binding proteins regulates actin filament organization. In unpolarized mammalian cells, rho proteins regulate the assembly of actin-containing stress fibers at the cell-matrix interface. Polarized epithelial cells, in contrast, are tall and cylindrical with well developed intercellular tight junctions that permit them to behave as biologic barriers. We report that rho regulates filamentous actin organization preferentially in the apical pole of polarized intestinal epithelial cells and, in so doing, influences the organization and permeability of the associated apical tight junctions. Thus, barrier function, which is an essential characteristic of columnar epithelia, is regulated by rho.

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Selected References

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