# STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF POLAR LIPIDS IN HUMAN SKIN

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF IOWA · 1993 · $205,391

## Abstract

The broad, long-term objective of this proposal is to understand the
structure and function of the lamellar lipid assemblies that form the
epidermal permeability barrier and govern the normal exfoliation and
replacement of the epidermal surface cells.  Several of the most common
skin diseases, including psoriasis, ichthyoses, seborrheic dermatitis,
dry skin, and acne, are thought to involve these epidermal lipid systems.
Of particular interest, and presumed biological importance, is the
recently discovered lipid sheath that is chemically attached to the outer
; I protein surface of each individual horny cell.  It is proposed to
determine the manner in which this lipid envelope is assembled, and to
define the properties of the protein to which it becomes attached.
Assembly of the precursor-molecules of the lipid envelope in their final
location on the cell surface will be investigated by isolation and
characterization of lamellar body bounding membranes that are directed
to the epidermal cell surface during its final development.  The protein
to which the lipids become attached may be involucrin, which is known to
contain the high proportion of glutamate residues necessary for linkage
to the hydroxyceramides that constitute the corneocyte lipid envelope.
The proportion of glutamate residues in the cross-linked protein envelope
will be examined by solid state nuclear magnetic resonance techniques.
The degree to which additional glutamate residues are provided by
hydrolysis of glutamines will be studied by both chemical and NMR
methods.  Studies of the non-bound intercellular lipids, which constitute
the water barrier in the stratum corneum, are aimed at determining how
the unique lamellar patterns are produced and how they contribute to
epidermal function.  This will involve in vitro emulation of the
succession of morphologic changes of lipid assemblies involved in
epidermal cell differentiation, by manipulating the lipid composition of
synthetic bilayer systems.  Interactions within and between the
intercellular lamellae and the corneocyte lipid envelopes will also be
examined by biophysical and NMR techniques.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3156284
- **Project number:** 2R01AR032374-09A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF IOWA
- **SAM.gov UEI:** Z1H9VJS8NG16
- **Principal Investigator:** DONALD T DOWNING
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1993
- **Award amount:** $205,391
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 1993-08-01 → 1997-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3156284

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3156284, STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF POLAR LIPIDS IN HUMAN SKIN (2R01AR032374-09A1). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3156284. Licensed CC0.

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