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Updated: Aug 7, 2026

Characterization of In Vitro Differentiation of Human Primary Keratinocytes by RNA-Seq Analysis
Published on: May 16, 2020
New consensus nomenclature for mammalian keratins
Jürgen Schweizer1, Paul E Bowden, Pierre A Coulombe
1Section of Normal and Neoplastic Epidermal Differentiation, Division of Cell Biology, German Cancer Research Center, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany. schweizer@dkfz.de
A new nomenclature system for keratin genes and proteins has been proposed. This system extends the original 1982 nomenclature to include newly discovered human keratins and pseudogenes.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Keratins are essential intermediate filament proteins in epithelial cells, providing mechanical support.
- An initial nomenclature for keratin proteins was established in 1982.
- Recent human genome sequencing revealed novel keratin genes and proteins, necessitating an updated naming system.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a new, comprehensive nomenclature for human keratin genes and proteins.
- To extend the existing 1982 nomenclature system.
- To create a flexible system accommodating new discoveries and other species.
Main Methods:
- Review and analysis of existing keratin nomenclature.
- Integration of data from human genome sequencing.
- Adherence to guidelines from Human and Mouse Genome Nomenclature Committees.
Main Results:
- A revised consensus nomenclature for keratin genes and proteins has been developed.
- The new system incorporates functional genes and pseudogenes.
- The nomenclature is designed for human keratins but adaptable for other mammalian species.
Conclusions:
- The proposed nomenclature provides a standardized framework for naming keratin genes and proteins.
- This system addresses the limitations of the original nomenclature in light of new genomic discoveries.
- The revised nomenclature ensures consistency and facilitates future research in keratin biology.
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