334 The desmosome is a mesoscale lipid raft-like membrane domain

Desmogleins (Dsgs) are cadherin family members present in desmosomes and essential for epidermal integrity. Dsgs associate with lipid raft membrane microdomains, but the physiological significance of this association is not clear. Here, we report that the Dsg transmembrane domain (TMD) is the primary determinant of lipid raft association. Further, we identify a novel mutation in the DSG1 TMD (G562R) that causes severe dermatitis, multiple allergies, and metabolic wasting (SAM) syndrome. Cell based experiments revealed that the Dsg1 TMD mutant is defective in both lipid raft and desmosome association.

Source: Journal of Investigative Dermatology - April 19, 2019 Category: Dermatology Authors: A.L. Caldara, J.D. Lewis, S.E. Zimmer, A. Seybold, N.L. Strong, S.N. Stahley, A.S. Frangakis, I. Levental, J.K. Wahl, A.L. Mattheyses, T. Sasaki, K. Nakabayashi, K. Hata, Y. Matsubara, A. Ishida-Yamamoto, M. Amagai, A. Kubo, A.P. Kowalczyk Tags: Epidermal Structure and Barrier Function Source Type: research