Fig. 7. Summary of events believed to lead to the downregulation of desmosomal adhesion in wounded epidermis. (A) In normal epidermis PKC is diffusely distributed in keratinocyte cytoplasm, and desmosomes have an organised structure and are Ca²⁺ independent. (B) Following wounding PKC associates with the desmosomal plaque. (C,D) PKC mediates phosphorylation of desmosomal plaque component(s). (E) A transmembrane signal generates a less-organised arrangement of the desmosomal cadherins and onset of Ca²⁺ dependence. (F) Whole desmosomes are internalised by wound-edge cells probably initially in association with membrane vesicles (red arrow).