CDNA Cloning, Expression, And Assembly Characteristics Of Mouse Keratin 16

The study successfully cloned and sequenced mouse keratin 16 (K16), revealing differences from human K16, particularly the absence of a proline residue in the 1B subdomain of the helical domain, which was previously thought to affect filament assembly. Contrary to earlier beliefs, both mouse and human K16 could integrate into the K8/K18 network and form filaments in vitro, suggesting that the unique functions of K16 are not due to the helical domain's sequence but likely related to the tail domain. This research provided insights into the assembly characteristics and potential functional domains of K16 in mice compared to humans.