Claudin-24 (CLDN24)

Claudin-24 is a polymer-forming membrane protein integral to the structure and function of tight junctions, which act as barriers controlling the flow of water, ions, and solutes between epithelial and endothelial cells[1][2]. Claudins possess four transmembrane domains, two extracellular loops involved in forming paracellular pores and defining charge selectivity, and a cytoplasmic tail interacting with scaffolding proteins (e.g., ZO-1, ZO-2)[2]. Although the claudin family contains 24 members with important physiological and disease roles, most drug development and functional studies focus on other isoforms, such as claudin-4 or -18, not claudin-24[3]. Genomic analyses have mapped CLDN24 among gene clusters containing tumor suppressors, but there are no therapeutically validated functions or drugs specific to this protein[1][3]. No evidence supports CLDN24 as a clinically actionable/therapeutic target or biomarker in current literature. Its alternative naming as claudin-21 is not generally accepted[1], and data for CLDN24 and CLDN21 should not be conflated.

Other names

Claudin-24CLDN24claudin-24Putative claudin-24