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Gene targeting of envoplakin, a cytoskeletal linker protein and precursor of epidermal cornified envelope

Maatta, Arto; Di Colandrea, Teresa; Groot, Karen; Watt Fiona, M.

Authors

Teresa Di Colandrea

Karen Groot

M. Watt Fiona



Abstract

Envoplakin, a member of the plakin family of cytoskeletal linker proteins, is localized in desmosomes of stratified epithelial cells and is a component of the epidermal cornified envelope. Gene targeting in mouse embryonic stem cells was used to generate a null allele of envoplakin. No envoplakin transcripts from the targeted allele could be detected in the skin of newborn mice. Mice homozygous for the targeted allele were born in the normal Mendelian ratio and were fertile. They did not develop any discernible pathological phenotype up to the age of 1 year. The ultrastructural appearance of cornified envelopes from adult epidermis was indistinguishable between wild-type and knockout mice, and there was no evidence that the absence of envoplakin affected the subcellular distribution of periplakin or desmoplakin, two other plakins found in desmosomes. The proportion of immature cornified envelopes in the epidermis of newborn mice was greater in envoplakin-null animals than in heterozygous littermates or wild-type mice, and the envelopes had a larger surface area. This correlated with a slight delay in barrier acquisition during embryonic development. We conclude that although envoplakin is part of the scaffolding on which the cornified envelope is assembled, it is not essential for envelope formation or epidermal barrier function.

Citation

Maatta, A., Di Colandrea, T., Groot, K., & Watt Fiona, M. (2001). Gene targeting of envoplakin, a cytoskeletal linker protein and precursor of epidermal cornified envelope. Molecular and Cellular Biology, 21(20), 7047-7053. https://doi.org/10.1128/mcb.21.20.7047-7053.2001

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Oct 1, 2001
Deposit Date Feb 26, 2008
Journal Molecular and Cellular Biology
Print ISSN 0270-7306
Electronic ISSN 1098-5549
Publisher American Society for Microbiology
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 21
Issue 20
Pages 7047-7053
DOI https://doi.org/10.1128/mcb.21.20.7047-7053.2001