Purpose Investigating the significance of ZO-1 different domains in the invasion and metastasis of gastric carcinoma (GC).Methods A tissue microarray that simulates the invasion and metastasis process of GC was created,and immunohistochemistry was performed to detect the expression of ZO-1 (α-pan),ZO-1 (α +) and ZO-1 (ZU5).Results The GC cell exhibited aberrant expression of ZO-1 (α-pan),ZO-1 (α +) and ZO-1 (ZU5) from membrane translocated to cytoplasm or no expression.The aberrant degree was increased with the invasion,however,was decreased in metastatic lymph node.The aberrant expression was associated with histological types.Conclusion The aberrant expression of ZO-1 (α-pan),ZO-1 (α +) and ZO-1 (ZU5),from membrane translocated to cytoplasm or no expression suggest that domains of PDZ3,GUK,SH3,ZU5 and alpha motif in ZO-1 might be involved in the invasion and metastasis of GC and maintaining of GC phenotype.The aberrant expression of these domains may be the one mechanism of ZO-1 involved in EMT or MET.