CLDN17

CLDN17

A gene on chromosome 21q22.11 that encodes claudin-17, an integral membrane protein of the claudin family, the members of which form a physical barrier that prevents solutes and water from passing freely into the interstitial space between epithelial or endothelial cell sheets, and play critical roles in maintaining cell polarity and signal transduction. Claudin-17 plays a key role in tight junction-specific obliteration of the intercellular space by means of a calcium-independent mechanism.