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Skin Tight
11 January 2017

Skin Tight

Our skin is vital – it’s a physical barrier against disease. One way it protects us is with a cell layer called the stratum granulosum in which the cells form connections called tight junctions to prevent liquids passing in or out. However, this barrier is only several cells thick and needs to be maintained. Scientists recently found that the cells of the stratum granulosum (pictured) in 3D are a 14-sided shape called Kelvin’s tetrakaidecahedron, formed of six rectangles and eight hexagons. It’s a very effective shape for filling space, so it could help the cells pack together to form the barrier. Using imaging and computer modelling, they also found that the tight junctions move between cells in a very precise way, to make sure that the barrier stays sealed when cells are joining or leaving it. Why this important barrier is only several cells thick, however, remains to be discovered.

Written by Esther Redhouse White

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BPoD stands for Biomedical Picture of the Day. Managed by the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences until Jul 2023, it is now run independently by a dedicated team of scientists and writers. The website aims to engage everyone, young and old, in the wonders of biology, and its influence on medicine. The ever-growing archive of more than 4000 research images documents over a decade of progress. Explore the collection and see what you discover. Images are kindly provided for inclusion on this website through the generosity of scientists across the globe.

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