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ΔNp63-Senataxin circuit controls keratinocyte differentiation by promoting the transcriptional termination of epidermal genes.

Veronica GattiClaudia FierroMirco CompagnoneVeronica La BancaAlessandro MaurielloManuela MontanaroStefano ScaleraFrancesca De NicolaEleonora CandiFrancsesco RicciLuca FaniaGerry MelinoAngelo Peschiaroli
Published in: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (2022)
SignificanceΔNp63 is a master regulator of skin homeostasis since it finely controls keratinocyte differentiation and proliferation. Here, we provide cellular and molecular evidence demonstrating the functional role of a ΔNp63 interactor, the R-loop-resolving enzyme Senataxin (SETX), in fine-tuning keratinocyte differentiation. We found that SETX physically binds the p63 DNA-binding motif present in two early epidermal differentiation genes, Keratin 1 (KRT1) and ZNF750, facilitating R-loop removal over their 3' ends and thus allowing efficient transcriptional termination and gene expression. These molecular events translate into the inability of SETX-depleted keratinocytes to undergo the correct epidermal differentiation program. Remarkably, SETX is dysregulated in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, suggesting its potential involvement in the pathogenesis of skin disorders.
Keyphrases
  • gene expression
  • transcription factor
  • wound healing
  • dna binding
  • squamous cell carcinoma
  • genome wide
  • signaling pathway
  • genome wide identification
  • rectal cancer
  • bioinformatics analysis
  • heat stress