First Author | Kljuic A | Year | 2003 |
Journal | Exp Dermatol | Volume | 12 |
Issue | 1 | Pages | 20-9 |
PubMed ID | 12631243 | Mgi Jnum | J:82819 |
Mgi Id | MGI:2655787 | Doi | 10.1034/j.1600-0625.2003.120103.x |
Citation | Kljuic A, et al. (2003) A novel mouse desmosomal cadherin family member, desmoglein 1gamma. Exp Dermatol 12(1):20-9 |
abstractText | 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 1gamma (Dsg1c). Dsg1gamma shares 83% amino acid identity to the previously described mouse Dsg1, now designated as Dsg1alpha, and 32% and 40% identity to mouse Dsg2 and 3, respectively. The Dsg1gamma gene maps within the desmosomal gene cluster, between Dsc1 and Dsg1alpha. Comparison of its exon-intron structure revealed a high level of evolutionary conservation with related family members. In contrast to Dsg1alpha and Dsg3 whose expression is largely restricted to the skin, Dsg1gamma 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 Dsg1gamma was not found in the human genome, suggesting that the desmosomal cadherin gene cluster contracted during mammalian evolution. |