A high molecular weight tight junction-associated protein, ZO-1, has been demonstrated in liver (hepatocytes) and in both epithelium and endothelium. We carried out studies to examine the presence of the protein in vascular endothelial cell cultures and several other types of cultured cells, and the relationship between the ZO-1 protein content and confluency of endothelial cell monolayers. Immunofluorescence labelling of endothelial monolayers and two types of epithelial monolayers, IEC-6 and MDCK, with monoclonal antibody against ZO-1 protein localized the protein to the cell peripheries. Its association with the cell periphery only occurred when cells had contact with one another as demonstrated in endothelial cells. We have been able to show a positive correlation between the ZO-1 content of the cells and the extent of monolayer confluency in the endothelial cells by immunoblotting. The protein is much less expressed in nonconfluent endothelial cell monolayers and totally absent from mouse myeloma cultures. The presence and confluence-related expression of the protein in endothelium give support to the hypothesis that tight junctions exist in confluent endothelial cells and that the ZO-1 protein is expressed under the conditions where tight junction interactions occur.
2021 JCS Prize winner announced
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We are pleased to announce that the winner of the 2021 JCS Prize is Lee Dolat for his paper entitled ‘An endometrial organoid model of interactions between Chlamydia and epithelial and immune cells’.
Find out more about our preprint policies
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Last year, 47% of the manuscripts published in Journal of Cell Science were posted as preprints on bioRxiv. You can find our preprint policies here.
Cell scientist to watch: Christian Münch
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Journal of Cell Science interviewed Christian Münch, who established his independent research group in 2016 at Goethe University Frankfurt. His lab studies cellular stress responses to mitochondrial protein misfolding, infection and disease, as well as developing proteomics methods.
A unifying model for the role of the ATG8 system in autophagy
In this Hypothesis article, Thanh Ngoc Nguyen and Michael Lazarou reconcile prior observations of the core ATG8 system into a unifying model of their function that aims to consider apparently conflicting discoveries.
FocalPlane Network launched
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We are excited to announce the launch of the FocalPlane Network, an international directory of microscopists. The idea behind the FocalPlane Network is to facilitate promotion and networking as well as assist those seeking conference speakers, committee members, reviewers or collaborators. We hope that it will help promote diversity in the community. Find out more and join the Network here.
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