During fetal development, the barrier function of the fetal skin is developed under specific conditions for epidermis formation. In keratinocyte differentiation, the well-orchestrated production and modification of various structural proteins are induced. We assessed the epidermal barrier function in different fetal stages by evaluating the enzymatic activity of cross-linking proteins, transglutaminases, and the permeation of fluorescence dye in the stained epidermal sections.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDuring skin formation, particularly during differentiation of keratinocytes, unique post-translational modifications play a role in forming a proteinaceous supermolecule called the cornified envelope (CE), which is necessary for barrier function. Transglutaminases (TGs) are essential enzymes involved in the cross-linking of various keratinocyte structural proteins to complete CE formation. The TG family consists of eight isozymes, with two members, TG1 and TG3, located mainly in the epidermis.
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