title: Expression of the "skin-type" desmosomal cadherin DSC1 is closely linked to the keratinization of epithelial tissues during mouse development.
abstract: Desmosomal junctions contain two classes of desmosomal cadherin, the desmocollins and the desmogleins, each of which occurs as three distinct isoforms. To investigate the role of the "skin-type" desmosomal cadherins (desmocollin 1 and desmoglein 1) in the formation of keratinized epithelial structures, we have now cloned full-length mouse desmocollin 1 complementary deoxyribonucleic acid and examined the expression of desmocollin 1 and desmoglein 1 and messages during murine embryonic development by in situ hybridization. In the general body epidermis, desmocollin 1 and desmoglein 1 transcripts both showed considerable upregulation at 15.5 d, which is after the onset of stratification and before the start of keratinization. Before this the epidermis expressed low levels of desmocollin 1 message, although the desmoglein 1 signal was always stronger and more extensive. In the tongue, expression of desmocollin 1 message occurred several days after desmoglein 1 and coincided with the formation of the keratinizing filiform papillae. Desmoglein 1 message was also detected in epithelial tissues in which desmocollin 1 was absent, suggesting that expression of the two "skin-type" desmosomal cadherins was not tightly coupled during embryonic development. Human desmocollin 1 monoclonal antibodies that cross-reacted with mouse skin and tongue indicated that desmocollin 1 protein was first expressed in those outermost epithelial cells destined to form the keratinized layers of the stratum corneum or the papillae. The results suggest that expression of desmocollin 1 is closely associated with the keratinization of epithelial tissues during mouse development.
authors.affiliation: Division of Eukaryotic Molecular Genetics, National Institute for Medical Research, London, U.K.
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Buxton
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002417:Cattle; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D051187:Desmocollins; D051183:Desmoglein 1; D051182:Desmogleins; D051180:Desmoplakins; D003896:Desmosomes / Q000378:metabolism*; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D004848:Epithelium / Q000196:embryology; D006801:Humans; D007633:Keratins / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice / Q000196:embryology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012867:Skin / Q000196:embryology*; D014059:Tongue / Q000196:embryology*
chemical_list: D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D018076:DNA, Complementary; C495297:DSG1 protein, human; D051187:Desmocollins; D051183:Desmoglein 1; D051182:Desmogleins; D051180:Desmoplakins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D007633:Keratins