Occludin [SEP] found in taxon
Occludin
Occludin is a protein that in humans is encoded by the "OCLN" gene.
Occludin is a 65-kDa (522-amino acid polypeptide -human) integral plasma-membrane protein located at the tight junctions, described for the first time in 1993 by Shoichiro Tsukita. Together with the Claudin group of proteins, it is the main component of the tight junctions.
Gene location.
The OCLN gene is located on the long (q) arm of chromosome 5 at position q13.1. The gene starts at base pair 69,492,292
morphological stability in several epithelial tissues but also found chronic inflammation and hyperplasia in the gastric epithelium, calcification in the brain, testicular atrophy, loss of cytoplasmic granules in straited duct cells of salivary gland, and thinning of the compact bone. The phenotypical response of these mice to the lack of occludin suggest that the function of occludin is more complex than thought and requires more work.
Role in cancer.
Occludin plays a critical role in maintaining the barrier properties of a tight junction. Thus, mutation or absence of occludin