Genetic studies on the functional relevance of the protein prenyltransferases in skin keratinocytes

The study investigated the role of protein prenyltransferases, specifically FTase and GGTase-I, in skin keratinocytes by using conditional knockout mice. Mice lacking FTase in keratinocytes developed severe alopecia, with hair follicles appearing normal during development but becoming morphologically abnormal after birth, accompanied by many apoptotic cells. Although the interfollicular epidermis appeared normal, Fntb-deficient keratinocytes could not proliferate in culture, and non-farnesylated proteins accumulated. Mice lacking GGTase-I survived development but died shortly after birth, and their keratinocytes also failed to proliferate in culture. The study concluded that both FTase and GGTase-I were essential for the homeostasis of skin keratinocytes.