Nephrin trans-homophilic interaction

Foot processes are slender, actin rich protrusions of the cytoplasm that are anchored to the glomerular basement membrane. Adjacent foot processes are laterally interconnected by a highly specialized cell-cell junction, the slit diaphragm (SD). Nephrin (NPHS1) is the critical structural component within the slit diaphragm. Nephrin molecules of adjacent foot processes from neighboring podocytes interact with each other in the middle of the slit diaphragm forming a filter with a zipper like structure and with pores just the size of albumin on both sides of the midline density.

足突为细胞质中的细长、富含肌动蛋白的突起，其附着于肾小球基底膜。相邻的足突通过一种高度专业化的细胞间连接——裂隙隔膜（SD）——进行横向互联。Nephrin（NPHS1）是裂隙隔膜中的关键结构成分。相邻足突的Nephrin分子来自邻近的足细胞，在裂隙隔膜的中部相互接触，形成一个具有类似拉链结构的过滤器，且两侧中线密度处的孔隙恰好能够允许白蛋白通过。