This gene encodes a member of the type I (acidic) keratin family, which belongs to the superfamily of intermediate filament (IF) proteins. Keratins are heteropolymeric structural proteins which form the intermediate filament. These filaments, along with actin microfilaments and microtubules, compose the cytoskeleton of epithelial cells. The type I keratin genes are clustered in a region of chromosome 17q12-q21. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2009]
Function:
Essential for the proper assembly of types I and II keratin protein complexes and the formation of keratin intermediate filaments in the inner root sheath (irs).
Subunit:
Heterotetramer of two type I and two type II keratins.
Subcellular Location:
Cytoplasm.
Tissue Specificity:
Strongly expressed in skin and scalp, and weak expression observed in thymus. In the hair follicle, expressed in Henle layer, Huxley layer and in the irs cuticle. Expression extends from the bulb region up to the point of differentiation into the three layers. Also present in the medulla of beard hair (at protein level).
Similarity:
Belongs to the intermediate filament family.
SWISS:
Q7Z3Y7
Gene ID:
162605
Database links:
Entrez Gene: 788909 Cow
Entrez Gene: 162605 Human
Entrez Gene: 70843 Mouse
SwissProt: Q148H6 Cow
SwissProt: Q7Z3Y7 Human
SwissProt: A6BLY7 Mouse
Unigene: 59736 Human
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