Tight junction (or zonula occludens) form the continuous intercellular barrier between epithelial and endothelial cells,which is required to separate tissue spaces and regulate selective movement of solutes across the epithelium and endothelium . ZO-1 (also known as TJP1) is a peripheral membrane phosphoprotein located on the cytoplasmic face and is expressed in tight junctions of both epithelial and endothelial cells . It binds the transmembrane proteins occludin and the claudins linking them to cytoskeletal actin . ZO-1 belongs to a family of multidomain proteins known as the membrane-associated guanylate kinase homologs (MAGUKs). It is a pivotal tight junction protein and may be involved in signalling mechanisms regulating cell proliferation and differentiation .
