The claudin superfamily consists of many structurally related proteins in humans. These proteins are important structural and functional components of tight junctions in paracellular transport. Claudins are located in both epithelial and endothelial cells in all tight junction-bearing tissues. Three classes of proteins are known to localize to tight junctions, including the claudins, Occludin and junction adhesion molecule (JAM). Claudins, which consist of four transmembrane domains and two extracellular loops, make up tigh  junction strands. Emerging evidence suggests that the claudin family of proteins regulates transport through tight junctions via differential discrimination for solute size and charge. Claudin expression is often highly restricted to specfic regions of different tissues and may have an important role in transcellular transport through tight junctions.