Journal article
A Drosophila Model of Epidermolysis Bullosa Simplex
Journal of investigative dermatology, Vol.135(8), pp.2031-2039
08/2015
DOI: 10.1038/jid.2015.129
PMCID: PMC4519992
PMID: 25830653
Abstract
The blistering skin disorder epidermolysis bullosa simplex (EBS) results from dominant mutations in keratin 5 (K5) or keratin 14 (K14) genes, encoding the intermediate filament (IF) network of basal epidermal keratinocytes. The mechanisms governing keratin network formation and collapse due to EBS mutations remain incompletely understood. Drosophila lacks cytoplasmic IFs, providing a 'null' environment to examine the formation of keratin networks and determine mechanisms by which mutant keratins cause pathology. Here, we report that ubiquitous co-expression of transgenes encoding wild-type human K14 and K5 resulted in the formation of extensive keratin networks in Drosophila epithelial and non-epithelial tissues, causing no overt phenotype. Similar to mammalian cells, treatment of transgenic fly tissues with phosphatase inhibitors caused keratin network collapse, validating Drosophila as a genetic model system to investigate keratin dynamics. Co-expression of K5 and a K14(R125C) mutant that causes the most severe form of EBS resulted in widespread formation of EBS-like cytoplasmic keratin aggregates in epithelial and non-epithelial fly tissues. Expression of K14(R125C)/K5 caused semi-lethality; adult survivors developed wing blisters and were flightless due to a lack of intercellular adhesion during wing heart development. This Drosophila model of EBS is valuable for the identification of pathways altered by mutant keratins and for the development of EBS therapies.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- A Drosophila Model of Epidermolysis Bullosa Simplex
- Creators
- Jens Bohnekamp - Division of Cell and Developmental Biology, Translational Center for Regenerative Medicine and Institute of Biology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany. Electronic address: lori-wallrath@uiowa.eduDiane E Cryderman - Department of Biochemistry, 3136 MERF, University of Iowa, Iowa, Iowa, USAAchim Paululat - Department of Biology, Zoology/Developmental Biology, University of Osnabrück, Osnabrück, GermanyGabriel C Baccam - Department of Biochemistry, 3136 MERF, University of Iowa, Iowa, Iowa, USALori L Wallrath - Department of Biochemistry, 3136 MERF, University of Iowa, Iowa, Iowa, USA. Electronic address: lori-wallrath@uiowa.eduThomas M Magin - Division of Cell and Developmental Biology, Translational Center for Regenerative Medicine and Institute of Biology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of investigative dermatology, Vol.135(8), pp.2031-2039
- Publisher
- United States
- DOI
- 10.1038/jid.2015.129
- PMID
- 25830653
- PMCID
- PMC4519992
- ISSN
- 0022-202X
- eISSN
- 1523-1747
- Grant note
- S10 RR018998 / NCRR NIH HHS P30CA086862 / NCI NIH HHS P30 CA086862 / NCI NIH HHS R21AR064894 / NIAMS NIH HHS R21 AR064894 / NIAMS NIH HHS
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 08/2015
- Academic Unit
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; University College Courses
- Record Identifier
- 9984024512002771
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