# Translational Regulation by Desmosomes

> **NIH NIH R21** · DUKE UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $389,620

## Abstract

Abstract
Desmosomes are cell-cell adhesion structures that are essential for the mechanical strength of the
epidermis and heart. Disruption of desmosomes results in devastating blistering diseases of the
skin and in cardiomyopathies/dysplasias. While the canonical role of desmosomes is to provide
mechanical resilience through binding the intermediate filament cytoskeleton, emerging non-
canonical functions suggest that desmosomes are important integrators of many aspects of tissue
physiology. Our long-term goals are to understand the functions of desmosomes in the epidermis
and to determine how cells respond to pathogenic anti-desmosomal antibodies produced in the
autoimmune diseases, pemphigus. We have made the exciting discovery that desmosomes recruit
translational regulators to the cell cortex. We hypothesize that desmosomes are sensors of tissue
integrity that alter translation in response to defective adhesion. To define the functional relevance
of translational control by desmosomes, we will determine the translational response upon acute
disruption of desmosomes using pathogenic pemphigus antibodies. In addition, we will use single
molecule live-imaging approaches to determine the sites of protein translation under both
homeostatic conditions and when desmosomes are disrupted. This work will define novel
mechanisms for cell adhesions in regulating post-transcriptional gene expression, which may have
essential functions in sensing and responding to defects in epithelial integrity.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10314319
- **Project number:** 1R21AR079850-01
- **Recipient organization:** DUKE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Terry H Lechler
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $389,620
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-09-24 → 2024-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10314319

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10314319, Translational Regulation by Desmosomes (1R21AR079850-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10314319. Licensed CC0.

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