Desmosomal cadherin association with Tctex-1 and cortactin-Arp2/3 drives perijunctional actin polymerization to promote keratinocyte delamination

Abstract

The epidermis is a multi-layered epithelium formed by the differentiation of basal cells and movement into suprabasal layers. Here the authors define a role for the desmosomal cadherin desmoglein-1 in promoting the delamination of basal cells by remodeling the actin cytoskeleton through interactions with the dynein light chain Tctex-1 and cortactin.