Structural basis of urothelial permeability barrier function as revealed by Cryo-EM studies of the 16 nm uroplakin particle.

The apical surface of terminally differentiated mammalian urothelial umbrella cells is covered by numerous plaques consisting of two-dimensional (2D) crystals of hexagonally packed 16 nm uroplakin particles, and functions as a remarkable permeability barrier. To determine the structural basis of this barrier function, we generated, by ele...更多