Blistering skin disorders 1

Question 1

Epidermis structure (out to in)?

Answer 1

Stratum corneum, granular layer, stratum spinosum, basal layer

Question 2

Structure of basal epidermal cells?

Answer 2

Small, cuboidal cells

Question 3

What are the basal epidermal cells?

Answer 3

Stem cells that are constantly proliferating

Question 4

What happens to the basal epidermal cells as they move up?

Answer 4

They terminally differentiate

Question 5

What is the stratum spinosum mainly made up of?

Answer 5

Keratinocytes

Question 6

What separates the keratinocytes in the stratum spinosum?

Answer 6

Spiky processes–> points of cell adhesion

Question 7

What do the cells in the granular layer produce?

Answer 7

Lots of keratin–> accumulates as granules

Question 8

What are the two classes of cadherins?

Answer 8

Classic and desmosomal

Question 9

What do both classical and desmosomal cadherins need to function?

Answer 9

Calcium

Question 10

What type of junction do classical cadherins mediate?

Answer 10

Adherens junctions

Question 11

What kind of binding do classical cadherins mediate, and what does this mean?

Answer 11

Homophilic binding
e.g. Bind to an identical E-cadherin molecule on an adjacent cell

Question 12

What is the most important group of adhesion molecules in keratin adhesion in the epidermis?

Answer 12

Cadherins

Question 13

Which classical cadherin is expressed in the skin?

Answer 13

E cadherin

Question 14

Which domains do classical cadherins have?

Answer 14

Intracellular, transmembrane, extracellular

Question 15

Role of extracellular classical cadherin domain?

Answer 15

Can interact with the extracellular domain of another cadherin molecule on an adjacent cell

Question 16

Role of transmembrane and intracellular cadherin domains?

Answer 16

Linking attachment signals from the extracellular domain

Question 17

What does the intracellular domain of a classical cadherin link to in the cell?

Answer 17

Cytoplasmic anchoring molecules of armadillo family

Question 18

Examples of cytoplasmic anchoring molecules of armadillo family used with classical cadherins?

Answer 18

Beta-catenin, vinculin

Question 19

What do intracellular cytoplasmic linking molecules link to (other than the cadherins intracellular domain) with classical cadherins?

Answer 19

The actin cytoskeleton via alpha catenin

Question 20

What do intracellular cytoplasmic linking molecules (for classical cadherins) link to the actin cytoskeleton via?

Answer 20

Alpha catenin

Question 21

Examples of desmosomal cadherins?

Answer 21

Desmogleins, desmocolins

Question 22

What type of junction do desmosomal cadherins mediate?

Answer 22

Desmosomal junctions

Question 23

Three diff types of desmogleins?

Answer 23

1, 2, 3

Question 24

Differences in desmogleins 1, 2, 3?

Answer 24

They are differentially expressed in the diff layers of the epidermis-> diff numbers expressed in diff places

Question 25

Role of desmocolins?

Answer 25

Initiate desmosome assembly

Question 26

Which domains do desmosomal cadherins have?

Answer 26

Intracellular, transmembrane, extracellular

Question 27

Role of extracellular desmosomal cadherin domain?

Answer 27

Can interact with the extracellular domain of another desmosomal cadherin molecule on an adjacent cell

Question 28

What do the intracellular domain of a desmosomal domain link to inside the cell?

Answer 28

Anchoring molecules of the armadillo family

Question 29

Examples of anchoring molecules of the armadillo family used with desmosomal cadherins?

Answer 29

Plakoglobin

Question 30

What do intracellular cytoplasmic linking molecules link to (other than the cadherins intracellular domain) with desmosomal cadherins?

Answer 30

Keratin intermediate filaments via desmoplakin

Question 31

How do the armadillo family anchoring molecules link to the keratin intermediate filaments in desmosomal cadherins?

Answer 31

Via desmoplakin