title: Periplakin, a novel component of cornified envelopes and desmosomes that belongs to the plakin family and forms complexes with envoplakin.
abstract: The cornified envelope is a layer of transglutaminase cross-linked protein that is assembled under the plasma membrane of keratinocytes in the outermost layers of the epidermis. We have determined the cDNA sequence of one of the proteins that becomes incorporated into the cornified envelope of cultured epidermal keratinocytes, a protein with an apparent molecular mass of 195 kD that is encoded by a mRNA with an estimated size of 6.3 kb. The protein is expressed in keratinizing and nonkeratinizing stratified squamous epithelia and in a number of other epithelia. Expression of the protein is upregulated during the terminal differentiation of epidermal keratinocytes in vivo and in culture. Immunogold electron microscopy was used to demonstrate an association of the 195-kD protein with the desmosomal plaque and with keratin filaments in the differentiated layers of the epidermis. Sequence analysis showed that the 195-kD protein is a member of the plakin family of proteins, to which envoplakin, desmoplakin, bullous pemphigoid antigen 1, and plectin belong. Envoplakin and the 195-kD protein coimmunoprecipitate. Analysis of their rod domain sequences suggests that the formation of both homodimers and heterodimers would be energetically favorable. Confocal immunofluorescent microscopy of cultured epidermal keratinocytes revealed that envoplakin and the 195-kD protein form a network radiating from desmosomes, and we speculate that the two proteins may provide a scaffolding onto which the cornified envelope is assembled. We propose to name the 195-kD protein periplakin.
authors.affiliation: Keratinocyte Laboratory, Imperial Cancer Research Fund, London WC2A 3PX, UK.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ruhrberg
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hajibagheri
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Parry
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Watt
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D051180:Desmoplakins; D003896:Desmosomes / Q000378:metabolism*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D007477:Ions; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D051179:Plakins; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011817:Rabbits; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D011503:Transglutaminases / Q000378:metabolism; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D018076:DNA, Complementary; C495294:DSP protein, human; D051180:Desmoplakins; D007477:Ions; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C491674:PPL protein, human; D051179:Plakins; D011498:Protein Precursors; C100754:envoplakin; D011503:Transglutaminases