Junctional Adhesion Molecule 3 (JAM3)

JAM3 is a member of the junctional adhesion molecule protein family and acts as a receptor for another member of this family.Widely expressed. Highest expression in placenta, brain and kidney.

Tight junctions represent one mode of cell-to-cell adhesion in epithelial or endothelial cell sheets, forming continuous seals around cells and serving as a physical barrier to prevent solutes and water from passing freely through the paracellular space. The protein encoded by this immunoglobulin superfamily gene member is localized in the tight junctions between high endothelial cells. Unlike other proteins in this family, this protein is unable to adhere to leukocyte cell lines and only forms weak homotypic interactions.