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Bead Aggregation Assays for the Characterization of Putative Cell Adhesion Molecules
08:15

Bead Aggregation Assays for the Characterization of Putative Cell Adhesion Molecules

Published on: October 17, 2014

Desmosomal cell adhesion in mammalian development

Xing Cheng1, Zhining Den, Peter J Koch

  • 1Department of Dermatology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.

European Journal of Cell Biology
|April 12, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Desmosome defects cause tissue fragility and embryonic lethality in mice. These cell adhesion proteins are crucial for development, with mutations leading to structural abnormalities and death during gestation.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Desmosomes are critical for cell-cell adhesion and tissue integrity.
  • Defects in desmosomes cause inherited and acquired tissue fragility syndromes, primarily affecting skin and heart.
  • Desmosomal proteins are essential for embryonic development, as evidenced by embryonic lethality in knockout mouse models.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the essential roles of desmosomes during mouse embryonic development.
  • To highlight the consequences of desmosomal protein loss on embryonic viability and tissue architecture.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of genetically engineered mouse models with targeted desmosomal protein knockouts.
  • Examination of embryonic lethality timing and developmental defects in mutant mice.

Main Results:

  • Loss of various desmosomal proteins results in embryonic lethality at different developmental stages (implantation, mid-gestation, late gestation).
  • Primary cause of death appears to be structural defects leading to abnormal histo-architecture and tissue fragility.
  • No evidence suggests that desmosomal protein loss aborts specific cell lineages or differentiation programs.

Conclusions:

  • Desmosomes play a vital, non-redundant role in mouse embryonic development.
  • Understanding desmosome function is crucial for comprehending developmental processes and associated pathologies.

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