faculty research interests  

 

Fanning
6320 Medical Biomolecular Research Building
(919) 966-6412
alan_fanning@med.unc.edu


Biosketch

 

Alan S. Fanning, PhD
 Research Associate Professor

Education:

PhD, Yale University 1993

 

Role of Cytoplasmic Proteins in Tight Junction Assembly and Function

My research interests are primarily focused on the molecular basis of tight junction assembly and permeability. Tight junctions are the primary barrier to the paracellular transport of ions, macromolecules, and immune cells across an epithelium, and are thus critical to the maintenance of distinct tissue spaces. The protein Zonula Occludens (ZO)-1 is a cytosolic component of the tight junction, and my previous work has suggested that this protein has a key role organizing transmembrane proteins that seal the paracellular space. More recently, I have shown that ZO-1 binds directly to the actin cytoskeleton and have characterized the interaction of ZO-1 with several other actin-binding proteins, including the tyrosine kinase substrate cortactin and the adherens junction protein alpha catenin. These observations suggest that that ZO-1 provides an important functional connection between components of the paracellular seal and the actin cytoskeleton.

 

Selected Publications:

Anderson JM, Van Itallie CM, Fanning AS. (2004) Setting up a selective barrier at the apical junction complex. Curr Opin Cell Biol. 16(2):140-5. Review.

Helwani FM, Kovacs EM, Paterson AD, Verma S, Ali RG, Fanning AS, Weed SA, Yap AS. (2004) Cortactin is necessary for E-cadherin-mediated contact formation and actin reorganization. J Cell Biol. 164(6):899-910.

Van Itallie CM, Fanning AS, Anderson JM. (2003) Reversal of charge selectivity in cation or anion-selective epithelial lines by expression of different claudins. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol. 285(6):F1078-84.

Fanning AS, Ma TY, Anderson JM. (2002) Isolation and functional characterization of the actin binding region in the tight junction protein ZO-1. FASEB J. 16(13):1835-7.

Mitic LL, Schneeberger EE, Fanning AS, and Anderson JM. (1999) Connexin-Occludin Chimeras Containing the ZO-binding Domain of Occludin Localize at MDCK Tight Junctions and NRK Cell Contacts. J. Cell Biol. 146: 683-693.

Fanning AS and Anderson JM. (1999) PDZ domains: Fundamental building blocks in the organization of Protein Complexes at the Plasma Membrane. J. Clin. Invest. Vol. 103: 767-772.

Fanning AS, Mitic LL and Anderson JM. (1999) Transmembrane proteins at the tight junction and regulation of paracellular permeability. J. Am. Soc. Nephrol. 10: 1337-1345.

Fanning AS and Anderson, JM. (1999) Protein Modules as Organizers of Membrane Structure. Curr. Opin. Cell Biol. 11: 432-439.

Fanning AS, Jameson BJ, Jesaitis L and Anderson JM. (1998) The tight junction protein ZO-1 establishes a link between the transmembrane protein occludin and the actin cytoskeleton. J. Biol. Chem. 273: 29745-29753.