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Updated: Jul 20, 2026
10:37
Induction and Analysis of Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition
Published on: August 27, 2013
Evidence for a matriptase-prostasin proteolytic cascade regulating terminal epidermal differentiation
Sarah Netzel-Arnett1, Brooke M Currie, Roman Szabo
1Center for Vascular and Inflammatory Diseases and Department of Physiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, USA.
The Journal of Biological Chemistry
|September 19, 2006
Summary
Matriptase initiates a protease cascade essential for skin barrier formation by activating prostasin. This coordinated action regulates epidermal differentiation and stratum corneum development in mice.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Dermatology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Matriptase and prostasin are crucial membrane proteases for epidermal barrier function.
- Both proteases are required for processing profilaggrin and forming the stratum corneum.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the upstream-downstream relationship between matriptase and prostasin.
- To elucidate the role of matriptase in prostasin activation and epidermal differentiation.
Main Methods:
- Enzymatic gene trapping of matriptase.
- Prostasin immunohistochemistry.
- In vitro biochemical assays using purified proteases.
Main Results:
- Matriptase and prostasin expression onset is coordinated during epidermal development.
- Matriptase directly activates prostasin zymogen in vitro.
- Prostasin remains in its zymogen form in matriptase-deficient epidermis.
Conclusions:
- Matriptase acts upstream of prostasin in a zymogen activation cascade.
- This cascade is essential for regulating terminal epidermal differentiation and skin barrier acquisition.
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