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Tight Junction
Definition 1
Found near the apical surface of cells in simple epithelia. Forms a sealing "gasket" around the cell by the fusion of adjacent cell membranes which encircle the apical cell surface like a belt or fence. Prevents fluid moving through the intercellular gap and the lateral diffusion of intrinsic membrane proteins between apical and basolateral domains of the plasma membrane as well as occludes the movement of solute molecules between cells. Various proteins components of this junction have been identified, but how they are linked to form the ultrastructure of the junction is not known. (NCI Thesaurus)
Definition 2
Cell-cell junctions that seal adjacent epithelial cells together, preventing the passage of most dissolved molecules from one side of the epithelial sheet to the other. (Alberts et al., Molecular Biology of the Cell, 2nd ed, pG-22) (NLM, Medical Subject Headings)
Definition 3
area of closely apposed plasma membranes of two adjacent animal cells; lateral diffusion of proteins within the lipid bilayer is reduced and intercellular exchange of solutes is enhanced. (NIH CRISP Thesaurus)
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