title: Claudins: control of barrier function and regulation in response to oxidant stress.
abstract: Claudins are a family of nearly two dozen transmembrane proteins that are a key part of the tight junction barrier that regulates solute movement across polarized epithelia. Claudin family members interact with each other, as well as with other transmembrane tight junction proteins (such as occludin) and cytosolic scaffolding proteins (such as zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1)). Although the interplay between all of these different classes of proteins is critical for tight junction formation and function, claudin family proteins are directly responsible for forming the equivalent of paracellular ion selective channels (or pores) with specific permeability and thus are essential for barrier function. In this review, we summarize current progress in identifying structural elements of claudins that regulate their transport, assembly, and function. The effects of oxidant stress on claudins are also examined, with particular emphasis on lung epithelial barrier function and oxidant stress induced by chronic alcohol abuse.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
authors.forename: Christian E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Overgaard
authors.forename: Brandy L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Daugherty
authors.forename: Leslie A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koval
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D057167:Claudins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D055503:Protein Multimerization / Q000502:physiology; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D021381:Protein Transport; D019108:Tight Junctions / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D057167:Claudins