Multiple side-by-side cis-interaction interfaces provide the flexibility of claudin-15 strands. (a–c) Contact maps of the side-by-side cis-interactions between claudin pairs grouped into three clusters based on pairs of relative orientations. The size of the circles denotes the probability of pairwise interactions, and the colors correspond to the interacting region. The analysis is performed over the 225 nm strand (300 monomers) and 15 ns. (d–f) The snapshots of dominant interactions at each cluster are shown for claudin pairs corresponding to (d) negative, (e) zero, and (f) positive orientation angles. The interacting regions are colored green for ECH, red for ECS1, magenta for ECS2, and orange for TM3.