Kazrin (KAZN)

Kazrin is highly conserved and lacks homology to any known protein. There are four alternatively spliced transcripts, encoding three proteins with different NH2 termini. Kazrin is expressed in all layers of stratified squamous epithelia; it becomes membrane associated in the suprabasal layers, coincident with up-regulation of periplakin, and is incorporated into the cornified envelope of cultured keratinocytes. Kazrin colocalizes with periplakin and desmoplakin at desmosomes and with periplakin at the interdesmosomal plasma membrane, but its subcellular distribution is independent of periplakin. On transfection, all three kazrin isoforms have similar subcellular distributions. kazrin is a novel component of desmosomes that associates with periplakin.