septate junctions

Septate junctions are intercellular junctions found in invertebrate epithelial cells, and appear ladder-like under electron microscopy. They are thought to provide structural strength and a barrier to solute diffusion through the intercellular space. They are considered somewhat analogous to the (vertebrate) tight junctions, however tight and septate junctions are different in many ways. Known insect homologues of tight junction components are components of conserved signalling pathways that localise to either adherens junctions or the subapical complex or marginal zone.