Association of Basonuclin With the Ability of Keratinocytes to Multiply and Absence of Terminal Differentiation

The study explored the role of basonuclin, a protein with zinc fingers and a nuclear localization signal, in keratinocytes. It was primarily expressed in the basal layer of stratified squamous epithelia and hair follicles. Basonuclin was associated with the ability of keratinocytes to multiply and was absent in cells undergoing terminal differentiation. In cultured keratinocytes, the loss of basonuclin mRNA correlated with reduced colony-forming ability and increased involucrin mRNA, indicating terminal differentiation. In hair follicles, basonuclin was abundant in the outer root sheath, suggesting its role in maintaining proliferative capacity and preventing differentiation. Basonuclin was not a cell cycle marker but likely a regulatory molecule crucial for keratinocyte proliferation.