Ectopic expression of desmin in the epidermis of transgenic mice permits development of a normal epidermis

J Kirfel, B Peters, C Grund, K Reifenberg, TM Magin - Differentiation, 2002 - Elsevier
Cell architecture is largely based on the interaction of cytoskeletal proteins, which include
intermediate filaments (IF), microfilaments, microtubules, as well as their type-specific
membrane-attachment structures and associated proteins. In order to further our
understanding of IF proteins and to address the fundamental issue whether different IF
perform unique functions in different tissues, we expressed a desmin transgene in the basal
epidermis of mice. Ectopic expression of desmin led to the formation of an additional, keratin …