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Medical AI Inquiry: You were designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.
user
A researcher is studying proteins that contribute to intestinal epithelial permeability. He has isolated intestinal tissue from several mice. After processing the tissue into its individual components, he uses a Western blot analysis to identify a protein that forms part of a multi-protein complex at the apical aspect of epithelial cells. The complex is known to provide a diffusion barrier between the apical and basolateral aspects of epithelial cells. Which of the following proteins is this researcher most likely investigating?
assistant
Claudin