Skin and Cellular Biology Research

Desmin Mutations Disrupt Filament Elongation and Drive Polymorphic Aggregation

This study examines how desmin mutations affect filament assembly and aggregation, finding that specific mutations disrupt filament maturation and lead to distinct aggregation pathways.

The Desmoplakin Hinge Domain Confers a Reversible Conformational Change in Response to Acute External Force

This paper identifies a reversible conformational change in the desmoplakin hinge domain in response to mechanical force, showing its role in mechanotransduction within desmosomes.

The molecular basis of hard cornification in the keratinized jaw sheaths and keratodonts of anuran tadpoles

This study identifies keratin genes involved in hard cornification in Bombina orientalis tadpoles and shows their distinct expression patterns and functional roles in jaw sheaths and keratodonts.

Desmoglein-1 coordinates cell proliferation and actin dynamics to promote epidermal morphogenesis.

This study uses scRNA-seq to show Dsg1 coordinates cell proliferation and actin dynamics to drive epidermal morphogenesis through a Dsg1-Nck1-N-WASP axis.

Density-Dependent Rearrangement of Desmoplakin in Epithelial Junctions: Insights from Expansion Microscopy

The paper uses expansion microscopy to show that epithelial cell density changes the organization of desmoplakin in junctions, with increased C-terminal spacing in confluent monolayers.

Epidermal cells sculpt sensory nerve endings through actomyosin contractility

The paper shows that epidermal actomyosin contractility controls sensory nerve ending positioning by pruning nerve fibers and establishing a mechanical boundary.

Regulation of the desmosome-intermediate filament linkage enables an adaptive mechano-response within the stratified epidermis

This study identifies the desmosome-intermediate filament network as critical for mechano-response in epidermis, showing its regulation by PP2A-mediated phosphorylation of desmoplakin.

Molecular basis of collagen triple helix recognition by VWF A-like domain 2 of collagen VII: Implications for interlaced anchoring fibril formation

This study identifies the molecular mechanism by which collagen VII's A2 domain recognizes triple helix motifs in fibrillar collagens, revealing structural insights into anchoring fibril formation and its implications for skin fragility diseases.

Mimicking two posttranslational modifications associated with oxidative stress affords phase separation of vimentin

The paper shows that mimicking oxidative modifications at vimentin residues C328 and S49 induces phase separation, revealing a role for glycosylation and phosphorylation in regulating this process.

A keratin bundling transition uncages the nucleus in stretchedepithelia

The paper shows that keratin bundling in epithelial cells under stretch allows the nucleus to escape its keratin cage, providing a mechanism for tissue adaptation to mechanical stress.

Volume EM reveals three-dimensional architecture of the desmosome in epithelial cells and tissue models

This study uses volume EM to reveal the three-dimensional structure of desmosomes in epithelial cells and identifies novel features like discontinuities in the outer dense plaque.

Vimentin promotes actin assembly by stabilizing ATP-actin subunits at the barbed end

This study shows vimentin promotes actin elongation by stabilizing ATP-actin subunits at the barbed end, and it enhances actin nucleation through a direct interaction with ATP-actin monomers.

FAM83H couples keratin organization to Notch signaling during epidermal morphogenesis

This study identifies FAM83H as a regulator linking keratin organization to Notch signaling in epidermal morphogenesis, showing its role in keratinocyte differentiation and cell-cell adhesion.

A proteomic atlas of organelle remodeling identifies lysosomal SNX3 as a regulator of Notch signaling in epidermal differentiation

Solid state NMR characterization of wild-type and mutant GFAP intermediate filament assemblies

This study uses solid state NMR to analyze wild-type and mutant GFAP filament assemblies, revealing structural differences caused by a mutation linked to Alexander disease.

Contribution of HMGB1 to Keratinocyte inflammation in Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa

This study investigates HMGB1's role in keratinocyte inflammation in RDEB, finding increased HMGB1 expression in wounds and partial suppression of inflammation by pharmacological inhibition.

Desmoglein-3 modulates p38MAPK and ERK signaling responses through the mechano-sensitive channel Piezo1

This study shows DSG3 modulates p38MAPK and ERK signaling through Piezo1 in keratinocytes under mechanical stress.

Glutamylated vimentin proteoform identified by a synthetic binder links to epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity

The paper identifies a glutamylated vimentin proteoform using a synthetic binder and shows its dynamic regulation during epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity.

Super-Resolution Imaging Reveals Stretch-Induced Architectural Rearrangement of Desmoplakin in Desmosomes

This study uses super-resolution imaging to show that mechanical stretch increases the distance between desmoplakin cytoplasmic tails in desmosomes, indicating a conformational shift in response to stress.

Metal ion binding of vimentin tail domain fragments

This study investigates the structural and metal binding properties of vimentin tail domain fragments, revealing direct Cu(II) binding to specific regions and providing insights into their role in vimentin function.

StrataChip: a microphysiological system capturing dynamic keratinocyte fate and mechanical transitions during human epidermal morphogenesis

StrataChip enables dynamic study of human epidermal morphogenesis by integrating microfluidics with single-cell RNA-sequencing and imaging, revealing transcriptional and mechanical transitions during stratification.

The human Flower isoform hFWE4 facilitates cornification in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

This study identifies hFWE4 as a marker of differentiation in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, showing its role in cornification and correlation with tumor prognosis.

Interdigitating coiled-coil tetramers define the helical architecture of GFAP filaments in astrocytes

This study reveals the helical structure of GFAP filaments in astrocytes using cryo-EM, showing coiled-coil tetramers interdigitate to form a filament tube with functional domains contributing to filament organization and disease pathogenesis.

Advanced 3D spheroid-based skin models and deep-learning based image analysis enable in-depth investigation of keratinocyte differentiation and barrier function

The paper introduces 3D spheroid-based skin models and a deep-learning pipeline to study keratinocyte differentiation and barrier function, identifying NHK-E6/E7 as the best alternative to primary keratinocytes.

Cytosolic factors govern vimentin network architecture and mechanics

This study reconstitutes vimentin networks in vitro using cell extracts, showing that cytosolic factors, not filament properties, determine network architecture and mechanics, which vary by cell type.

Keratin intermediate filaments mechanically position melanin pigments for genome photoprotection

The paper shows keratin 5/14 intermediate filaments position melanin pigments near the nucleus to protect DNA from UV damage, using human keratinocyte models and imaging.

Vimentin networks at high strains

This study investigates the mechanical behavior of vimentin intermediate filament networks under high strain, finding strain stiffening behavior in contrast to actin networks that strain soften.

The pathogenic mutant vimentin L387P disrupts endoplasmic reticulum organization and proteostasis

The paper shows that the vimentin L387P mutation disrupts ER organization and proteostasis by forming aggregates that sequester degradation components and impair ER function.

Keratin 15 promotes a progenitor cell state in basal keratinocytes of skin epidermis

The paper shows that K15 promotes a progenitor cell state in skin epidermis by counteracting K14's suppression of YAP1, a Hippo signaling effector.

Cytoskeleton remodeling caused by keratin dysregulation triggers tumor aggressiveness via promoting genomic instability and cellular adaption

This study shows keratin fusion variants increase tumor aggressiveness by causing genomic instability, promoting drug resistance, and altering cytoskeleton structures.