DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Keratins are the most abundant proteins in surface epithelia, in which they form cytoplasmic networks of 10 nm wide intermediate filaments (IFs). Keratins are encoded by an evolutionarily conserved multigene family, with 54 individual members subdivided into two major types (I and II). The pairwise regulation of type I and type II keratins in epithelia reflects a strict heteropolymerization requirement. In addition, keratin gene are regulated in an epithelial tissue-type and differentiation-specific fashion, the functional bass of which is only partly understood. Our efforts in this project are focused on defining the properties and function of the type I keratins 16 and 17 (K16, K17), and type II keratins 6a and 6b (K6a, K6b) in skin epithelia, which are of particular interest because of their dual involvement in human disease. First, genetic mutations in Krt6a/b, Krt16 or Krt17 cause genodermatoses with pathological features reflecting grossly altered skin homeostasis, including pachyonychia congenita (PC), palmoplantar keratoderma (PPK), and steatocystoma multiplex. The main tissues affected by these disorders are ectoderm-derived epithelial appendages and glabrous skin, and represent the sites of constitutive expression of these genes. Second, elevated expression of these keratin genes impacts the onset and course of chronic hyperproliferative and inflammatory skin diseases, e.g., psoriasis and cancer. The latter results from the massive induction of these keratin proteins in interfollicular epidermis under such abnormal circumstances, combined with their emerging role as regulators of cell growth, tissue inflammation and immune responses in skin epithelia. During the last period of support, we discovered that a nuclear form of K17 plays a significant role in regulating the expression of genes involved in growth control, inflammation and immunity in skin keratinocytes. Going forward, we propose to: (Aim 1a) Identify the mechanisms and regulation of import/export of K17 to/from the nucleus, and identify the protein partners of K17 inside the nucleus; (Aim 1b) Map K17 protein binding sites throughout the genome of resting versus stimulated skin keratinocytes; and (Aim 1c) Generate and characterize a mouse in which K17 cannot be imported in the nucleus but is otherwise fully functional. We also showed that the PPK lesions that spontaneously arise in Krt16 null mice resemble those occurring in PC patients and are in part the result of hypoactive Keap1-Nrf2 signaling. Going forward we will: (Aim 2a) Assess the consequence of expressing PC-causing missense Krt16 alleles in mouse; (Aim 2b) Define the mechanism(s) through which K16 regulates Keap1/Nrf2-dependent gene expression; and (Aim 2c) Identify other protein partners and pathways through which K16 regulates innate immunity and the skin barrier. Upon completion of this project we hope to have defined the significance of the presence of keratin 17 in the...