Apodaca Lab

Research focus

NIH R01 · 2025

Role of AJC in umbrella cell function and dysfunction

Abstract: A critical component of the umbrella cell barrier is the apical junctional complex (AJC), a multipartite, belt-like structure comprised of the tight junction, the adherens junction, desmosomes, and an associated cytoskeleton. Functions of the AJC include regulation of paracellular flux, cell-cell adhesion, and mechanotransduction. Despite evidence that the umbrella cell AJC is integral to urothelial function and disrupted in several lower urinary tract disorders, we have limited understanding of key aspects of umbrella cell AJC biology and pathobiology including: (i) how the AJC maintains its continuity in the face of cyclical bladder filling and voiding; (ii) how the AJC is…

From the public funding record at NIH RePORTER. Describes the funded project, not the reviews below.