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A novel mouse desmosomal cadherin family member, desmoglein 1γ
Author(s) -
Kljuic A.,
Christiano A. M.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
experimental dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.108
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1600-0625
pISSN - 0906-6705
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-0625.2003.120103.x
Subject(s) - desmoglein , desmosome , biology , cadherin , plakoglobin , desmoplakin , gene , desmoglein 1 , gene cluster , genetics , exon , microbiology and biotechnology , catenin , wnt signaling pathway , cell , antibody , autoantibody
The mouse desmogleins are members of the desmosomal cadherin superfamily, and are critical structural components of the desmosome. The genes encoding mouse desmogleins are tightly clustered within 600 kb of chromosome 18, within a desmosomal cadherin gene family also containing the three desmocollin genes. In this study, we have characterized a novel mouse desmoglein gene, highly homologous to both mouse and human Dsg1, designated desmoglein 1γ (Dsg1c). Dsg1γ shares 83% amino acid identity to the previously described mouse Dsg1, now designated as Dsg1α, and 32% and 40% identity to mouse Dsg2 and 3, respectively. The Dsg1γ gene maps within the desmosomal gene cluster, between Dsc1 and Dsg1α. Comparison of its exon–intron structure revealed a high level of evolutionary conservation with related family members. In contrast to Dsg1α and Dsg3 whose expression is largely restricted to the skin, Dsg1γ is also expressed in the brain, skeletal muscle, and liver, among other tissues, and is thus more similar to Dsg2 in its tissue distribution. Interestingly, an orthologous Dsg1γ was not found in the human genome, suggesting that the desmosomal cadherin gene cluster contracted during mammalian evolution.