title: Chromosomal localisation of the human envoplakin gene (EVPL) to the region of the tylosis oesophageal cancer gene (TOCG) on 17q25.
abstract: Envoplakin is a membrane-associated precursor of the epidermal cornified envelope. Envoplakin is homologous to desmoplakin I and desmoplakin II (DPI/II), bullous pemphigoid antigen 1 (BPAG1), and plectin and is proposed to link desmosomes and keratin filaments to the cornified envelope. We describe the isolation of cosmids and yeast artificial chromosomes containing the complete human envoplakin gene (EVPL) and show, by analysis of somatic cell hybrids and chromosomal in situ hybridisation, that the envoplakin gene, unlike the genes encoding BPAG1 and DPI/II, maps to 17q25 and is physically linked to D17S1603. This sequence-tagged site segregates with the autosomal dominant human disease focal nonepidermolytic palmoplantar keratosis (NEPKK; "tylosis"), which is associated with an increased risk of oesophageal cancer. The chromosomal localisation of the envoplakin gene, the homology of the encoded protein to keratin-binding proteins, and its expression in epidermal and oesophageal keratinocytes all raise the possibility that loss of envoplakin function could be responsible for this form of palmoplantar keratoderma.
authors.affiliation: Keratinocyte Laboratory, Imperial Cancer Research Fund, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ruhrberg
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Williamson
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sheer
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Watt
mesh_terms: D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D018244:Chromosomes, Artificial, Yeast / Q000235:genetics; D002886:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 17 / Q000235:genetics*; D003360:Cosmids / Q000235:genetics; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D005796:Genes; D006801:Humans; D015776:Keratoderma, Palmoplantar, Diffuse / Q000235:genetics*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000235:genetics*; D016324:Sequence Tagged Sites
chemical_list: D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011498:Protein Precursors; C100754:envoplakin