Date of Award
Spring 5-22-2021
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Biomedical and Chemical Engineering
Advisor(s)
Shikha Nangia
Second Advisor
Arindam Chakraborty
Keywords
Chimera, Claudin, Computational, Simulation
Subject Categories
Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering | Chemical Engineering | Engineering
Abstract
Tight junctions are vital to epithelial and endothelial barrier functions aiding in ion transport and preventing toxins from crossing into paracellular space. Claudins, made of four transmembrane helices and two extracellular loops, are a major part of the assembly of tight junctions along with other transmembrane proteins. The dimer interactions of two members of the 27-known members of the claudin family—claudin-2 and claudin-4—were analyzed. We created claudin chimera by switching claudin 2’s extracellular loops with claudin 4’s. The chimeras were analyzed using molecular dynamic simulations by comparing them to the natural claudins. This analysis provided new insight into the assembly of tight junction strands that ultimately will aid in paracellular drug delivery through barriers in the human body.
Access
Open Access
Recommended Citation
Marsch, Patrick Matthew, "Predicting Tight Junction Formation Via Claudin Chimeras" (2021). Theses - ALL. 486.
https://surface.syr.edu/thesis/486
