title: In vivo function of desmosomes.
abstract: Desmosomes are morphologically and biochemically defined cell-cell junctions that are required for maintaining the mechanical integrity of skin and the heart in adult mammals. Furthermore, since mice with null mutations in desmosomal plaque proteins (plakoglobin and desmoplakin) die in utero, it is also evident that desmosomes are indispensable for normal embryonic development. This review focuses on the role of desmosomes in vivo. We will summarize the effects of mutations in desmosomal genes on pre- and post-embryonic development of mouse and man and discuss recent findings relating to the specific role of desmosomal cadherins in skin differentiation and homeostasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Xing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Koch
mesh_terms: D022005:Adherens Junctions / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051180:Desmoplakins; D003896:Desmosomes / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D023421:Models, Animal; D009154:Mutation; D012867:Skin / Q000196:embryology*; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena; D013045:Species Specificity; D051185:gamma Catenin
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; C495294:DSP protein, human; D051180:Desmoplakins; C495295:Dsp protein, mouse; D051185:gamma Catenin