Ancient Origin of the Gene Encoding Involucrin, a Precursor of the Cross-linked Envelope of Epidermis and Related Epithelia

Overview

Journal Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A

Specialty Science

Date 2008 Sep 24

PMID 18809918

Citations 21

Authors

Amandine Vanhoutteghem

Philippe Djian

Howard Green

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The cross-linked (cornified) envelope is a characteristic product of terminal differentiation in the keratinocyte of the epidermis and related epithelia. This envelope contains many proteins of which involucrin was the first to be discovered and shown to become cross-linked by a cellular transglutaminase. Involucrin has evolved greatly in placental mammals, but retains the glutamine repeats that make it a good substrate for the transglutaminase. Until recently, it has been impossible to detect involucrin outside the placental mammals, but analysis of the GenBank and Ensembl databases that have become available since 2006 reveals the existence of involucrin in marsupials and birds. We describe here the properties of these involucrins and the ancient history of their evolution.

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