The skinny on Slug.
The zinc finger transcription factor Slug (Snai2) serves a wide variety of functions in the epidermis, with roles in skin development, hair growth, wound healing, skin cancer, and sunburn. Slug is expressed in basal keratinocytes and hair follicles where it is important in maintaining epidermal homeostasis. Slug also helps coordinate the skin response to exogenous stimuli. Slug is rapidly induced by a variety of growth factors and injurious agents and Slug controls, directly or indirectly, a variety of keratinocyte responses, including changes in differentiation, adhesion, motility, and production of inflammatory mediators. Slug thus modulates the interactions of the keratinocyte with its environment and with surrounding cells. The function of Slug in the epidermis appears to be distinct from that of the closely related Snail transcription factor.
Shirley
Stephanie H
SH
Department of Carcinogenesis, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Science Park Research Division, Smithville, Texas 78957, USA.
Hudson
Laurie G
LG
He
Jing
J
Kusewitt
Donna F
DF
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002465:Cell Movement; D004817:Epidermis / Q000378:metabolism; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D000071250:Snail Family Transcription Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology
C000604449:Snai2 protein, mouse; D000071250:Snail Family Transcription Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors