Foxn1 is required for tissue assembly and desmosomal cadherin expression in the hair shaft.
The mouse nude mutation inactivates the gene encoding the Foxn1 transcription factor, causing defective hair morphogenesis. Here, we show for the first time that Foxn1 is required for proper assembly of the hair medulla, and we identify Foxn1-regulated genes by transcript profiling. One such gene encodes the desmosomal cadherin, Dsc2. Significantly, Foxn1-dependent Dsc2 expression is restricted to the hair medulla, and within these cells, Dsc2 protein is predominantly localized to specialized adhesion junctions between the cortex and the medulla. Our results reveal Foxn1 as an essential regulator of tissue assembly in the growing hair shaft and implicate Dsc2 as a downstream effector of this activity.
Johns
Sarah A
SA
Centre for Developmental Genetics, School of Medicine and Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, United Kingdom.
Soullier
Stephan
S
Rashbass
Penny
P
Cunliffe
Vincent T
VT
D000818:Animals; D015820:Cadherins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics*; D051187:Desmocollins; D003896:Desmosomes / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D018859:Hair Follicle / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics*
D015820:Cadherins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D051187:Desmocollins; C489912:Dsc2 protein, mouse; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C090140:Whn protein; C502406:fat1 protein, mouse