CLDN18

This 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 upregulated in patients with ulcerative colitis and highly overexpressed in infiltrating ductal adenocarcinomas. PKC/MAPK/AP-1 (protein kinase C/mitogen-activated protein kinase/activator protein-1) dependent pathway regulates the expression of this gene in gastric cells. Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been identified. [provided by RefSeq, Jun 2010]

Claudin 18

Plays a major role in tight junction-specific obliteration of the intercellular space, through calcium-independent cell-adhesion activity.

Bicellular tight junction assembly Source: GO_Central
Calcium-independent cell-cell adhesion via plasma membrane cell-adhesion molecules Source: UniProtKB
Cell adhesion Source: GO_Central
Digestive tract development Source: Ensembl
Negative regulation of bone resorption Source: Ensembl
Negative regulation of osteoclast development Source: Ensembl
Negative regulation of protein localization to nucleus Source: Ensembl
Response to ethanol Source: Ensembl
TNFSF11-mediated signaling pathway Source: Ensembl

Cell membrane; Tight junction. Localizes to tight junctions in epithelial cells.

Cytoplasmic: 1-6
Helical: 7-27
Extracellular: 28-80
Helical: 81-101
Cytoplasmic: 102-122
Helical: 123-143
Extracellular: 144-174
Helical: 175-195
Cytoplasmic: 196-261