CDNA Cloning, Expression, And Assembly Characteristics Of Mouse Keratin 16
November 1998
in “
Journal of Biological Chemistry
”
TLDR Mouse and human keratin 16 can both form filaments, with differences likely due to the tail domain, not the helical domain.
The study successfully cloned and sequenced mouse keratin 16 (mK16), revealing differences from human keratin 16 (hK16), particularly the absence of a proline residue in the helical domain, which was thought to affect filament assembly. Despite this, mK16 formed long filaments and could integrate into the K8/K18 network in cells without negative effects. Both mK16 and hK16 could form filaments de novo when transfected with human K5 into keratin-free cells. The study suggested that the unique functions of K16 were more likely determined by its tail domain rather than the helical domain. The findings provided insights into the structural and functional properties of mK16, with potential implications for understanding keratin-related skin disorders.