# GENE EXPRESSION & DIFFERENTIATION IN HUMAN EPIDERMIS

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO · 1992 · $598,378

## Abstract

The long range objective of this research is an understanding of
the biochemical mechanisms that operate and regulate the expression
of keratin genes during differentiation and development in human
epithelial tissues.  The human epidermis has been chosen as s model
system, since we are able to serially cultivate these cells in
vitro under conditions where many of their differentiative
properties, including stratification are retained.

The keratins are the major differentiation-specific proteins in
these cells, They are a family of >20 fibrous proteins (MW 40-67K)
that form 8 nm filaments in the cytoskeletons of all and only
epithelial cells.  They appear to be specifically tailored to suit
the varied protective and structural needs of each epithelial cell.
Keratins can be subdivided into two distinct groups, type 1 and
type 11, and a member of each is essential for filament assembly.
Type 1 and type 11 proteins are frequently expressed as specific
pairs, and typically 1-3 pairs are expressed at any one time.
During the course of differentiation in epidermis, this subset
changes concomitantly with an increase in keratin synthesis,
leaving the fully differentiated cell with 85% of its total protein
as keratins.  Additional changes in keratin patterns are observed
during development, in wound-healing, and in a number of human skin
diseases, As such, the pattern of keratins expressed by an
epithelial cell may provide a powerful diagnostic tool for genetic
diseases and cancers of epithelia, In order to assess the potential
value of keratin expression in medicine, it is essential that we
understand the functional and structural significance of the
multiplicity of keratin sequences and their role in differentiation
and development.  We have isolated and characterized a number of
the human genes encoding these keratins, and we have prepared
specific cRNA probes to detect different keratin mRNAs, and
monospecific antibody probes to detect different keratin proteins.
We are currently using these tools to 1) examine the role of
different keratin sequences in filament assembly; 2) examine the
mechanism by which specific keratin pairs are selected from the
repertoire of keratin genes, and how the two types are regulated
in balance; 3) explore the function of keratins using an in vivo
as well as an in vitro approach; and 4) examine the molecular basis
of altered keratin expression in certain genetic skin diseases.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3155580
- **Project number:** 5R01AR027883-12
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
- **SAM.gov UEI:** ZUE9HKT2CLC9
- **Principal Investigator:** ELAINE FUCHS
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1992
- **Award amount:** $598,378
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1980-12-01 → 1993-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3155580

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3155580, GENE EXPRESSION & DIFFERENTIATION IN HUMAN EPIDERMIS (5R01AR027883-12). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3155580. Licensed CC0.

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