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Published on: December 14, 2015
Perp is a p63-regulated gene essential for epithelial integrity
Rebecca A Ihrie1, Michelle R Marques, Bichchau T Nguyen
1Division of Radiation and Cancer Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA.
Cell
|March 31, 2005
Summary
Perp is a direct target of p63, crucial for stratified epithelial development. Perp-deficient mice exhibit skin blistering, revealing Perp’s essential role in maintaining epithelial adhesion and tissue integrity.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Epithelial Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- p63 is a master regulator of stratified epithelial development.
- Perp, a tetraspan membrane protein, was previously identified as a p53 target involved in apoptosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of Perp as a direct target of p63 in epithelial development.
- To elucidate Perp's function in vivo during embryogenesis and its contribution to epithelial integrity.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of Perp expression during embryogenesis.
- Generation and characterization of Perp knockout (Perp-/-) mice.
- Histological examination of skin and epithelial tissues.
- Localization studies of Perp protein at desmosomes.
Main Results:
- Perp expression is dependent on p63 during embryogenesis.
- Perp-/- mice display severe blistering in stratified epithelia due to compromised adhesion.
- Perp localizes to desmosomes and is essential for their stable assembly.
- Perp deficiency leads to structural defects in desmosomes and impaired tissue integrity.
Conclusions:
- Perp is the first identified direct target of p63 involved in mediating stratified epithelial development.
- Perp plays a critical role in an epithelial adhesion subprogram essential for tissue integrity and homeostasis.
- These findings establish Perp as a key effector in the p63 developmental pathway.
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