Unraveling the molecular make-up of the glomerular podocyte slit diaphragm

Recent discoveries in podocyte proteins involved in the renal filtration ba rrier have shed new light on the ultrastructure of the kidney filter and pa thogenesis of proteinuria. The identification of nephrin, a component of th e slit diaphragm, and the intracellular slit diaphragm associated proteins CD2AP and podocin has demonstrated the existence of proteins that directly contribute to a functional kidney filter. Mutations in the genes for these three proteins result in proteinuria and nephrotic syndrome, and these prot eins are also likely to be involved more generally in the pathomechanisms o f proteinuria. This new knowledge has been promoted particularly through th e powerful methods of molecular genetics and molecular biology. In this min ireview, we present the recent progress in research of the podocyte slit di aphragm. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.