The tight junction or zonula occludens is the most apical structure of the epithelial junctional
complex. Tight junctions form semipermeable intercellular diffusion barriers that control
paracellular diffusion in a regulated manner. This intercellular junction also acts as an
intramembrane fence that prevents the intermixing of apical and basolateral lipids in the
exocytoplasmic leaflet of the plasma membrane. Moreover, evidence suggests that tight
junction components participate in the regulation of cell growth and differentiation. Occludin …