title: Polycomb group proteins are key regulators of keratinocyte function.
abstract: The Polycomb group (PcG) proteins are epigenetic suppressors of gene expression that function through modification of histones to change chromatin structure and modulate gene expression and cell behavior. Recent studies show that PcG proteins are expressed in epidermis, that their levels change during differentiation and in disease states, and that PcG expression is regulated by agents that influence cell proliferation and survival. The results indicate that PcG proteins regulate keratinocyte cell-cycle progression, apoptosis, senescence, and differentiation. These proteins are expressed in progenitor cells, in the basal layer, and in suprabasal keratinocytes, and the level, timing, and distribution of expression suggest that the PcG proteins have a central role in maintaining the balance between cell survival and death in multiple epidermal compartments. Additional studies indicate an important role in skin cancer progression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, USA. reckert@umaryland.edu
authors.forename: Richard L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Eckert
authors.forename: Gautam
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Adhikary
authors.forename: Ellen A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Rorke
authors.forename: Yap Ching
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chew
authors.forename: Sivaprakasam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Balasubramanian
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000502:physiology; D016922:Cellular Senescence / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D063146:Polycomb-Group Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D063146:Polycomb-Group Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins