| Type: | Family | Name: | Claudin-8 |
| Description: | Claudins form the paracellular tight junction seal in epithelial tissues. In humans, 24 claudins (claudin 1-24) have been identified. Their ability to polymerise and form strands is affected by the cell types [, , ]. They can also form heteropolymers with each other within and between tight junction strands []. Most of the claudins (claudin-12 being the exception) have a C-terminal PDZ-binding motif that can interact with other PDZ domain proteins, such as scaffolding protein, ZO-1, -2 and -3 []. They also interact with non-tight junction proteins, such as cell adhesion proteins EpCam and tetraspanins and the signaling proteins, ephrin A and B and their receptors, EphA and EphB [].Claudin-8 was identified through searching expressed sequence tag (EST) databases for sequences similar to claudin-1 and -2 []. It was subsequently cloned and expressed in cells, where it was shown to concentrate at tight junctions. Human and mouse isoforms have been identified. Claudin-8 shares ~26-58% overall similarity with other claudin family members at the amino acid level, displaying highest similarity to claudin-17. | Short Name: | Claudin8 |
