Cornification

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Cornification is the process of forming an epidermal barrier in stratified squamous epithelial tissue.

At cellular level cornification is characterised by

• production of keratin
• production of small proline-rich (SPRR) proteins and transglutaminase which eventually form a cornified cell envelope beneath the plasma membrane
• terminal differentiation
• loss of nuclei and organelles, in the final stages of cornification metabolism ceases and the cells are completely filled by keratin

Sources: Matsuda et al. (2007) and Steinert , Kartasova & Marekov (1998).

[edit] See also

• Keratin and Cornification

[edit] References

• Matsuda Y, Osaki T, Hashii T, Koshiba T, Kawabata S (November 2007). "A cysteine-rich protein from an arthropod stabilizes clotting mesh and immobilizes bacteria at injury sites". J. Biol. Chem. 282 (46): 33545–52. doi:10.1074/jbc.M705854200. PMID 17855345. 
• Steinert PM, Kartasova T, Marekov LN (May 1998). "Biochemical evidence that small proline-rich proteins and trichohyalin function in epithelia by modulation of the biomechanical properties of their cornified cell envelopes". J. Biol. Chem. 273 (19): 11758–69. PMID 9565599.