Differential Evolution of the Epidermal Keratin Cytoskeleton in Terrestrial and Aquatic Mammals

November 2018 in “ Molecular Biology and Evolution ”

Florian Ehrlich, Heinz Fischer, Lutz Langbein, Silke Praetzel‐Wunder, Bettina Ebner, K. Figlak, Anton Weissenbacher, Wolfgang Sipos, Erwin Tschachler, Leopold Eckhart

TLDR Aquatic mammals replaced some skin proteins with stress-related ones.

The study investigated the evolution of epidermal keratin genes in terrestrial and aquatic mammals, revealing that while keratins K5 and K14 were conserved across all mammals, K1 and K10 were lost in aquatic mammals like whales, dolphins, and manatees. In these aquatic species, K6 and K17, typically stress-induced in terrestrial mammals, were constitutively expressed, suggesting they replaced K1 and K10. Additionally, K2 and K9 were lost in both some terrestrial and aquatic mammals. The study highlighted the evolutionary diversification of the epidermal cytoskeleton, with cetaceans showing a complete replacement of predominant epidermal proteins by stress-inducible keratins.

View this study on academic.oup.com →

Discuss this study in the Community →

Research cited in this study

16 / 16 results

research Types I and II Keratin Intermediate Filaments

211 citations , April 2018 in “Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology”

Keratins are crucial for cell structure, growth, and disease risk.

research Evolution of Trichocyte Keratins

18 citations , January 2018 in “Advances in experimental medicine and biology”

Hair keratins evolved from ancient proteins, diversifying through gene changes, crucial for forming claws and later hair in mammals.

research A Curated Catalog of Canine and Equine Keratin Genes

20 citations , August 2017 in “PLoS ONE”

61 functional keratin genes were identified in dogs and horses, leading to updated gene annotations.

research Comparative Genomics Analyses of Alpha-Keratins Reveal Insights Into Evolutionary Adaptation of Marine Mammals

25 citations , August 2017 in “Frontiers in Zoology”

Marine mammals lost many α-keratin genes, aiding their adaptation to aquatic life by becoming hairless.

research A Keratin Scaffold Regulates Epidermal Barrier Formation, Mitochondrial Lipid Composition, And Activity

98 citations , December 2015 in “The Journal of Cell Biology”

Keratin is crucial for skin barrier formation and affects mitochondrial function.

research Loss of Keratin K2 Expression Causes Aberrant Aggregation of K10, Hyperkeratosis, and Inflammation

32 citations , April 2014 in “The journal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology”

Loss of keratin K2 causes skin problems and inflammation.

research Increased Rate of Hair Keratin Gene Loss in the Cetacean Lineage

42 citations , January 2014 in “BMC Genomics”

Cetaceans lost hair genes to adapt to water.

research Beyond Expectations: The Role of Keratin Intermediate Filament Proteins in Epidermal Integrity

70 citations , January 2014 in “International review of cell and molecular biology”

Keratin proteins are crucial for healthy skin, but mutations can cause skin disorders with no effective treatments yet.

research Keratin 79 Identifies a Novel Population of Migratory Epithelial Cells That Initiates Hair Canal Morphogenesis and Regeneration

60 citations , November 2013 in “Development”

Keratin 79 marks a new group of cells that are key for creating and repairing the hair follicle's structure.

research Recurrent Functional Divergence of Early Tetrapod Keratins in Amphibian Toe Pads and Mammalian Hair

19 citations , March 2013 in “Biology Letters”

Early tetrapod keratins evolved into toe pad proteins in amphibians and hair proteins in mammals.

research Against The Rules: Human Keratin K80

40 citations , September 2010 in “Journal of Biological Chemistry”

Keratin K80 is an ancient protein found in various tissues, important for cell structure and tissue differentiation.

research Identification of Reptilian Genes Encoding Hair Keratin-Like Proteins Suggests a New Scenario for the Evolutionary Origin of Hair

115 citations , November 2008 in “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences”

Reptiles have genes similar to hair proteins, suggesting hair's genetic origins predate mammals.

research The Human Keratins: Biology And Pathology

1398 citations , May 2008 in “Histochemistry and Cell Biology”

Keratins are crucial for cell stability, wound healing, and cancer diagnosis.

research Terrestrial Vertebrates Have Two Keratin Gene Clusters; Striking Differences in Teleost Fish

47 citations , July 2005 in “European Journal of Cell Biology”

Terrestrial vertebrates have balanced keratin gene clusters, unlike teleost fish.

research Keratins of the Human Hair Follicle

276 citations , January 2005 in “International review of cytology”

More research is needed to understand how hair keratins work and their role in hair disorders.

research A Novel Mouse Type I Intermediate Filament Gene, Keratin 17n, Exhibits Preferred Expression in Nail Tissue

31 citations , April 2004 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

A new mouse gene, Keratin 17n, is mainly found in nail tissue and may explain why mice without Keratin 17 don't have nail issues.