| OCLN — Occludin | |
|---|---|
| Symbol | OCLN |
| Full Name | Occludin |
| Chromosome | 5q13.2 |
| NCBI Gene | 4950 |
| Ensembl | ENSG00000130940 |
| OMIM | 602876 |
| UniProt | Q16625 |
| Diseases | Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Stroke, Multiple Sclerosis, Epilepsy |
| Expression | Brain endothelial cells, Epithelial tight junctions |
OCLN (Occludin) is a transmembrane tight junction protein crucial for maintaining blood-brain barrier (BBB) function. It plays a key role in regulating paracellular permeability and protecting the brain from peripheral molecules [1].
Occludin was the first identified tight junction transmembrane protein. It is a 65 kDa protein with four transmembrane domains that forms the structural basis of tight junctions. Unlike claudins, occludin is not essential for tight junction formation but is critical for maintaining barrier function and signaling [2].
The OCLN gene is located on chromosome 5q13.2 and encodes a protein of 522 amino acids. The gene is expressed in endothelial and epithelial cells throughout the body, with high expression in brain microvascular endothelial cells.
Occludin has a unique structure:
Cummins, Occludin in barrier function (2012). Trends in Cell Biology.
Hawkins & Davis, The blood-brain barrier in neurodegeneration (2005). Pharmacology & Therapeutics.
Sweeney et al., Blood-brain barrier breakdown in Alzheimer's disease (2019). Nature Reviews Neurology.
The study of Ocln — Occludin has evolved significantly over the past decades. Research in this area has revealed important insights into the underlying mechanisms of neurodegeneration and continues to drive therapeutic development.
Historical context and key discoveries in this field have shaped our current understanding and will continue to guide future research directions.
Cummins PM. "Occludin in barrier function." Trends in Cell Biology. 2012;22(2):75-77. DOI:10.1016/j.tcb.2012.01.002
Hawkins BT, Davis TP. "The blood-brain barrier/neurovascular unit in health and disease." Pharmacology & Therapeutics. 2005;107(1):1-11. DOI:10.1016/j.pharmthera.2005.01.004
Sweeney MD, Sagare AP, Zlokovic BV. "Blood-brain barrier breakdown in Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders." Nature Reviews Neurology. 2019;15(3):139-151. DOI:10.1038/s41582-019-0167-3