Question

An occludin mutation in ________ cells will directly affect _____.

a) intesitnal epithelial; glucose transport
b) drosophila embryonic; movement of the outer epithelium
c) drosophila embryonic; segmentation of the outer epithelium epithelial;
d) adherens junction formation

Answer 1

An occludin mutation in intestinal epithelial cells directly affects glucose transport by disrupting the integrity of tight junctions and the selective permeability of the epithelial barrier, which is essential for proper nutrient absorption.

Step-by-step explanation:

An occludin mutation in intestinal epithelial cells will directly affect glucose transport. Tight junctions are crucial in maintaining the barrier that controls the passage of substances across the intestinal epithelium. These junctions involve several proteins, including occludin. The tight junctions prevent the leakage of extracellular fluids and play a role in maintaining the selective permeability of the epithelium. When tight junction integrity is compromised due to a mutation in occludin, this can disrupt the glucose transport processes handled by transport proteins like GLUTs (glucose transport proteins), potentially affecting nutrient absorption and homeostasis.