Journal of Cell Science, Vol 94, Issue 2 355-359, Copyright © 1989 by Company of Biologists

JOURNAL ARTICLES

Onset of expression of peanut lectin-binding glycoproteins is correlated with stratification of keratinocytes during human epidermal development in vivo and in vitro

FM Watt, S Keeble, C Fisher, DL Hudson, J Codd and JR Salisbury
Keratinocyte Laboratory, Imperial Cancer Research Fund, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, UK.

During gestation the epidermis develops from a single layer of ectoderm into a layer of keratinocytes overlaid by a layer of periderm; this is followed by a progressive increase in the number of layers of keratinocytes, until finally the distinct granular and cornified layers characteristic of mature epidermis are formed. As part of our investigation into the function of the peanut lectin-binding glycoproteins of cultured human keratinocytes, we have examined their expression at different stages of human epidermal development. We found that the onset of expression of the glycoproteins coincided with the transition from a two- to a three-layered epidermis, both in vivo and in organ culture. In adult epidermis, the patterns of binding of peanut lectin and Limax flavus lectin are complementary, with peanut binding more strongly to suprabasal keratinocytes and Limax flavus lectin binding more strongly to cells in the basal layer. We found that the complementary pattern of binding of the two lectins was established at, or shortly after, the onset of stratification and retained throughout development. In contrast, expression by keratinocytes of involucrin, a protein precursor of the cornified envelope, occurred after stratification had begun. Finally, we identified the peanut lectin-binding glycoproteins of adult epidermis by immunoblotting with an antiserum raised against the glycoproteins of cultured neonatal keratinocytes. In conclusion, expression of the peanut lectin-binding glycoproteins is an early event in epidermal development, and this would be consistent with a role for the glycoproteins in stratification.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				P. M. Steinert and L. N. Marekov Initiation of Assembly of the Cell Envelope Barrier Structure of Stratified Squamous Epithelia Mol. Biol. Cell, December 1, 1999; 10(12): 4247 - 4261. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				D. Hudson, J Sleeman, and F. Watt CD44 is the major peanut lectin-binding glycoprotein of human epidermal keratinocytes and plays a role in intercellular adhesion J. Cell Sci., January 5, 1995; 108(5): 1959 - 1970. [Abstract] [PDF]

				C. Byrne, M. Tainsky, and E. Fuchs Programming gene expression in developing epidermis Development, September 1, 1994; 120(9): 2369 - 2383. [Abstract] [PDF]