MOLECULAR-STRUCTURE OF THE APICAL JUNCTION COMPLEX AND ITS CONTRIBUTION TO THE PARACELLULAR BARRIER

The major focus of this review is on the molecular structure and funct ions of proteins that are involved in the formation of tight intercell ular junctions and some methods used to modulate intercellular junctio ns. Tight junctions are a barricade for paracellular delivery of molec ules such as peptides and proteins. Understanding the molecular struct ure and functions of intercellular junction proteins may provide the p ossibility of systematically designing molecules that can regulate tig ht junctions. Regulation of proteins involved in the formation of inte rcellular junctions may open avenues to modulating the porosity of int ercellular junctions to improve paracellular drug delivery.