Isolation and Characterization of a Putative Keratin-Associated Protein Gene Expressed in Embryonic Skin of Mice

The study isolated and characterized a gene named 4C32, which was involved in the development of mouse epidermis. This gene encoded a protein with 197 amino acids and was expressed in the outermost layer of the embryonic epidermis at 15.5 and 16.5 days post-coitus (dpc), disappearing by 17.5 dpc, indicating its presence in the periderm. Although 4C32 showed homology to keratin-associated proteins typically found in hair follicles, it was not expressed in hair follicles but was found in developing tongue tissues and tail scales. The study suggested that 4C32 might play a role in epidermal development and differentiation, contributing to the understanding of skin morphogenesis and potentially belonging to a subfamily of KAP-like proteins involved in tissue differentiation.