Tight junction protein ZO-1

TJP1, TJP2, and TJP3 are closely related scaffolding proteins that link tight junction (TJ) transmembrane proteins such as claudins, junctional adhesion molecules, and occludin to the actin cytoskeleton. The tight junction acts to limit movement of substances through the paracellular space and as a boundary between the compositionally distinct apical and basolateral plasma membrane domains of epithelial and endothelial cells. Necessary for lumenogenesis, and particularly efficient epithelial polarization and barrier formation (By similarity). Plays a role in the regulation of cell migration by targeting CDC42BPB to the leading edge of migrating cells. Plays an important role in podosome formation and associated function, thus regulating cell adhesion and matrix remodeling. With TJP2 and TJP3, participates in the junctional retention and stability of the transcription factor DBPA, but is not involved in its shuttling to the nucleus (By similarity).