Cldn9 - claudin 9 Gene

This intronless gene encodes a member of the Claudin family. Claudins are integral membrane proteins and components of tight junction strands. Tight junction strands serve as a physical barrier to prevent solutes and water from passing freely through the paracellular space between epithelial or endothelial cell sheets, and also play critical roles in maintaining cell polarity and signal transductions. This gene is developmentally regulated; it is expressed in neonate kidney, but disappers by adulthood. It is required for the preservation of sensory cells in the hearing organ and the gene deficiency is associated with deafness. [provided by RefSeq, Aug 2010]