title: Deletion of the Sox21 gene drastically affects hair lipids.
abstract: The effects of Sox21 gene deletion on hair lipids have been studied. For the cuticle-specific bound lipid 18-methyl eicosanoic acid (18-MEA), which was found to predominantly exist as the free form in Sox21(-/-)  hair, total levels and distribution were unexpectedly unchanged. This indicates that while the biosynthesis of 18-MEA is unaffected, its covalent attachment to the cuticle surface is disrupted by loss of keratin-associated protein binding partners. Although the class compositions differed, the total ceramide (CER) levels were found to be comparable between Sox21(+/+)  and Sox21(-/-)  hairs. Deletion of the gene was also found to increase cholesterol sulphate (CS) levels. The biosynthesis process might be associated with cuticle keratinocyte maturation, because both CS and CERs are known bioactives in keratinocyte differentiation.
authors.forename: Shunro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kawaminami
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Breakspear
authors.forename: Yumiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Saga
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Noecker
authors.forename: Yoshinori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Masukawa
authors.forename: Masaru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsuchiya
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oguri
authors.forename: Yosuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Kazutaka
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ishikawa
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Okamoto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017353:Gene Deletion; D006197:Hair / Q000502:physiology*; D018859:Hair Follicle / Q000502:physiology*; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D055749:SOXB2 Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D055749:SOXB2 Transcription Factors; C484489:Sox21 protein, mouse