title: Dissection of keratin network formation, turnover and reorganization in living murine embryos.
abstract: Epithelial functions are fundamentally determined by cytoskeletal keratin network organization. However, our understanding of keratin network plasticity is only based on analyses of cultured cells overexpressing fluorescently tagged keratins. In order to learn how keratin network organization is affected by various signals in functional epithelial tissues in vivo, we generated a knock-in mouse that produces fluorescence-tagged keratin 8. Homozygous keratin 8-YFP knock-in mice develop normally and show the expected expression of the fluorescent keratin network both in fixed and in vital tissues. In developing embryos, we observe for the first time de novo keratin network biogenesis in close proximity to desmosomal adhesion sites, keratin turnover in interphase cells and keratin rearrangements in dividing cells at subcellular resolution during formation of the first epithelial tissue. This mouse model will help to further dissect keratin network dynamics in its native tissue context during physiological and also pathological events.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular and Cellular Anatomy, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Schwarz
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular and Cellular Anatomy, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Windoffer
authors.affiliation: Translational Center for Regenerative Medicine and Institute of Biology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Magin
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular and Cellular Anatomy, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Rudolf E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Leube
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D007633:Keratins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D000066450:Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells; D025941:Protein Interaction Mapping; D060066:Protein Interaction Maps
chemical_list: D007633:Keratins