Region-specific expression of scutate scale type beta keratins in the developing chick beak

This study shows that different patterns of scutate scale type beta keratins are accumulated in the three adjacent structures of the embryonic chick beak: periderm, egg tooth, and cornified beak. The cornified beak accumulates all of the beta keratins of scutate scale except pp2,3. The periderm, which is the outermost, multilayered covering of the whole embryonic beak, accumulates only beta keratins 2,3, and p2,3 of the scutate scale pattern. The egg tooth, which is the rounded elevation on the dorsal surface of the upper beak, and the embryonic claw accumulate greatly reduced levels of 2,3 and p2,3 compared to scutate scale. Like cornified beak, the claw does not accumulate pp2,3, but both tissues express a potentially new beta keratin, beta keratin 8. Neither the histidine rich "fast" proteins (HRPs), which are expressed in embryonic scutate scales and feathers, nor the avian cytokeratin associated proteins (cap-1 and cap-2), which are expressed in scutate and reticulate scales, are expressed in any of the embryonic beak structures or in the claw. The implications of these findings with regard to regulation of terminal differentiation of avian skin are discussed.