Keratin gene expression in mouse epidermis and cultured epidermal cells

The major differentiation products of mouse epidermis are keratins of 40-70 kilodaltons (kDal). We have prepared a library of cDNA clones from total poly(A)+ RNA from newborn mouse epidermis. Clones corresponding to the major in vivo keratins of 55, 59, and 67 kDal have been isolated and characterized. By RNA blot analysis of poly(A)+ RNA from newborn mouse epidermis, we have identified RNA species that are approximately 1,600, 2,000, and 2,400 nucleotides in length and are complementary to the cDNAs for the 55-, 59-, and 67-kDal keratins, respectively. Analysis of RNA from primary cultures of newborn mouse epidermis by this same technique shows greatly reduced levels of these RNAs. Transcripts complementary to all three cloned cDNAs are abundant in 14- to 16-day embryonic and adult mouse skin. Thus, altered expression in culture does not appear to be due to induction of a developmentally programmed switch by placing the cells in culture but instead is due to factors modulating expression within the culture system. Because the 55-, 59-, and 67-kDal keratins are the major proteins in epidermis they probably represent keratin associated with terminal differentiation. The expression data suggest that cultured cells are blocked in expression of differentiation keratins but instead synthesize other keratin family members probably related to cytoskeletal functions.