title: Deletion of JAM-A causes morphological defects in the corneal epithelium.
abstract: Junctional adhesion molecule-A (JAM-A, JAM-1, F11R) is an Ig domain containing transmembrane protein that has been proposed to function in diverse processes including platelet activation and adhesion, leukocyte transmigration, angiogenesis, epithelial cell shape and endothelial cell migration although its function in vivo is less well established. In the mouse eye, JAM-A protein expression is first detected at 12.5 dpc in the blood vessels of the tunica vasculosa, while it is first detected in both the corneal epithelium and lens between 13.5 and 14.5 dpc. In the corneal epithelium, JAM-A levels remain appreciable throughout life, while JAM-A immunostaining becomes stronger in the lens as the animals age. Both the cornea and lens of mice lacking an intact JAM-A gene are transparent until at least a year of age, although the cells of the JAM-A null corneal epithelium are irregularly shaped. In wild-type mice, JAM-A protein is found at the leading edge of repairing corneal epithelial wounds, however, corneal epithelial wound repair was qualitatively normal in JAM-A null animals. In summary, JAM-A is expressed in the corneal epithelium where it appears to regulate cell shape.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA.
authors.forename: Liang I
authors.initials: LI
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Arthur T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Suckow
authors.forename: Kirk J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Czymmek
authors.forename: Vesselina G
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Cooke
authors.forename: Ulhas P
authors.initials: UP
authors.lastname: Naik
authors.forename: Melinda K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Duncan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D048430:Cell Shape / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006579:Heterozygote; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D000071841:PAX6 Transcription Factor; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype; D011247:Pregnancy; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D017931:DNA Primers; D005136:Eye Proteins; C498686:F11r protein, mouse; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D000071841:PAX6 Transcription Factor; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors; C000605732:Pax6 protein, mouse; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D012097:Repressor Proteins