- Source: Desmoglein-3
3/info/desmoglein" target="_blank">Desmoglein-3 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the DSG3 gene. In the skin epidermis 3/info/desmoglein" target="_blank">Desmoglein-3 is expressed in the basal lower layers of the epidermis, and dominates in terms of expression on mucosal surfaces compared to 3/info/desmoglein" target="_blank">Desmoglein-1.
Function
Desmosomes are cell-cell junctions between epithelial, myocardial, and certain other cell types. 3/info/desmoglein" target="_blank">Desmoglein 3 is a calcium-binding transmembrane glycoprotein component of desmosomes in vertebrate epithelial cells. Currently, four 3/info/desmoglein" target="_blank">desmoglein subfamily members have been identified and all are members of the cadherin cell adhesion molecule superfamily. These 3/info/desmoglein" target="_blank">desmoglein gene family members are located in a cluster on chromosome 18. This protein, along with 3/info/desmoglein" target="_blank">Desmoglein-1, has been identified as the autoantigen of the autoimmune skin blistering disease pemphigus vulgaris. The mucosal dominant form of pemphigus vulgaris only involves antibodies against 3/info/desmoglein" target="_blank">Desmoglein-3 and causes mucosal erosions, but no skin lesions. 3/info/desmoglein" target="_blank">Desmoglein-3 serves as a prognostic marker of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (ESCC), and may even be involved in the progression of ESCC.
Pathogenicity
Pathogenicity of 3/info/desmoglein" target="_blank">Desmoglein-3 antibodies comes from the existence of a tryptophan residue that could be interacting with the binding pocket that is necessary for trans-interaction of 3/info/desmoglein" target="_blank">Desmoglein molecules. Such antibodies can lead to the cause of skin disorders like pemphigus vulgaris.
Interactions
3/info/desmoglein" target="_blank">Desmoglein 3 has been shown to interact with PKP3.
See also
3/info/desmoglein" target="_blank">Desmoglein
List of target antigens in pemphigus
List of conditions caused by problems with junctional proteins