title: Occludin: structure, function and regulation.
abstract: Epithelial and/or endothelial barriers play a critical role in animal, including human, life forms. The tight junction (TJ) is an essential component of these barriers. Occludin is a major component of the TJ. The structure of occludin, including its gene splice variants and protein essential components have been elucidated. Phosphorylation/dephosphorylation plays a major role in regulation of occludin and TJ. Disruption of occludin regulation is an important aspect of a number of diseases. Strategies to prevent and/or reverse occludin downregulation may be an important therapeutic target.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
authors.forename: Gemma J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Feldman
authors.forename: James M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Mullin
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Ryan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D062793:Occludin; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D008565:Membrane Proteins; C568985:OCLN protein, human; D062793:Occludin