Claudin 4 (CLDN4)

Claudin 4 encodes an integral membrane protein, which belongs to the claudin family. The protein is a component of tight junction strands and may play a role in internal organ development and function during pre- and postnatal life. This gene is deleted in Williams-Beuren syndrome, a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting multiple systems.The enterotoxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium perfringens is a simple protein with a molecular mass of approximately 35 kD. Known as a causative agent of diarrhea, it elicits fluid accumulation in the intestinal tract by altering the membrane permeability of intestinal epithelial cells. Pore formation in the cytoplasmic membrane is accepted as the underlying mechanism of this effect. The cytotoxic action of C. perfringens enterotoxin (CPE) requires its binding to specific receptors.