Extensive Expansion of the Claudin Gene Family in the Teleost Fish, Fugu rubripes

• DOI: 10.1101/gr.2400004
• Publication Date: 2004-06-15T18:29:49Z
• Authors: Yong Hwee Loh; Alan Christoffels; Sydney Brenner; Walter Hunziker; Byrappa Venkatesh
• Keywords: Fugu; Claudin; Takifugu rubripes; Lineage (genetic)

In humans, the claudin superfamily consists of 19 homologous proteins that commonly localize to tight junctions epithelial and endothelial cells. Besides being structural tight-junction components, claudins participate in cell–cell adhesion paracellular transport solutes. Here, we identify annotate genes whole-genome teleost fish, Fugu rubripes ( ), determine their phylogenetic relationships those mammals. Our analysis reveals extensive gene duplications lineage, leading 56 . A total 35 can be assigned orthology 17 mammalian genes, with remaining 21 specific fish lineage. Thus, a significant number additional are not result proposed duplication Expression profiling shows most expressed more-or-less tissue-specific fashion, or at particular developmental stages. We postulate expansion family teleosts allowed acquisition novel functions during evolution, fish-specific members families such as contribute large extent distinct physiology fishes