Defining a Region of the Human Keratin 6a Gene That Confers Inducible Expression in Stratified Epithelia of Transgenic Mice

The study investigated the regulatory sequences of the human keratin 6a (K6a) gene responsible for inducible expression in stratified epithelia following injury. Using transgenic mice, researchers found that the proximal 960 base pairs of the 5'-upstream sequence of the K6a gene were sufficient to induce beta-galactosidase expression in response to epidermal injury and chemical treatments known to induce K6 expression. The critical regulatory sequences for this inducibility were located between -960 and -550 base pairs, with enhancer elements influencing activity found between -2500 and -5200 base pairs. These findings highlighted the specific genetic elements involved in the gene expression response to epithelial injury.