KRT15
KRT15 (keratin 15, also known as K15, CK15 and K1CO) is a type I cytoskeletal keratin and a structural component of intermediate filaments in epithelium. It pairs with type II keratin KRT5 and helps maintain the progenitor state of basal epithelial cells. Browse Assay Genie's current range of KRT15 research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
KRT15 is a structural component of intermediate filaments in the epithelium. It forms heteropolymers with the type II keratin KRT5, and these assemble into a keratin intermediate filament network that promotes the mechanical resilience of undifferentiated cells. Cell types named in the annotation include hair follicle bulge cells, foregut basal progenitors and intestinal crypt cells. KRT15 also contributes to epithelial cell regeneration after injury.
In basal epithelial cells KRT15 plays an antagonistic role to KRT14. KRT14 promotes cell differentiation, whereas KRT15 maintains the progenitor state and promotes proliferation and clonogenicity. In basal keratinocytes this is linked to YAP1: KRT15 retains cytoplasmic YAP1 less effectively than KRT14 because it lacks certain biochemical motifs, which allows higher YAP1 nuclear activity. In the absence of KRT14, KRT15 still forms a bona fide keratin filament network with KRT5, although it is ultrastructurally distinct.
The KRT15 gene belongs to the keratin gene family, and the protein belongs to the intermediate filament family. Keratins are responsible for the structural integrity of epithelial cells and are subdivided into cytokeratins and hair keratins. Most type I cytokeratins are acidic proteins arranged in pairs of heterotypic keratin chains, and they cluster in a region on chromosome 17q21.2. HGNC classes the gene within the type I keratins and also among microRNA protein coding host genes. Previous names include keratin 15, type I. Mouse and rat both carry a Krt15 ortholog.
KRT15 maintains the progenitor state, proliferation and clonogenicity of basal epithelial cells, making it relevant to studies of undifferentiated cell populations.
The KRT15 filament network supports the mechanical resilience of undifferentiated cells, including hair follicle bulge cells.
KRT15 retains cytoplasmic YAP1 less effectively than KRT14, allowing higher nuclear YAP1 activity in basal keratinocytes.
KRT15 contributes to epithelial cell regeneration after injury, and also supports foregut basal progenitors and intestinal crypt cells.
KRT15 is a structural component of epithelial intermediate filaments. With KRT5 it forms a keratin network that promotes the mechanical resilience of undifferentiated cells. It also maintains the progenitor state and promotes proliferation and clonogenicity in basal epithelial cells, opposing KRT14, and contributes to regeneration after injury.
KRT15 is also called keratin 15, K15, CK15 and K1CO. UniProt lists the protein as keratin, type I cytoskeletal 15, and a previous HGNC name was keratin 15, type I. The aliases refer to the same gene and protein.
Yes. Mouse and rat each have an ortholog named Krt15. In humans the gene sits on chromosome 17q21.2, within a cluster of type I cytokeratin genes. Check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
Other keratins and intermediate filament proteins that act in epithelial structure and progenitor biology.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt P19012; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.