Krt5
KRT5
KRT5 (pronounced as "kay-are-tee-five"), also known as Keratin 5, is a protein that in humans is encoded by the KRT5 gene.
Etymology
The term "KRT5" is an abbreviation for "Keratin 5". The word "Keratin" is derived from the Greek word "κέρας" (keras), meaning "horn". This is in reference to the protein's structural role in the outer layer of skin, hair, and nails.
Function
KRT5 is a type II cytokeratin, one of a number of intermediate filament proteins that are expressed in the differentiated layers of the epidermis. It is specifically expressed in the basal layer, the most inner layer of the epidermis. KRT5, along with other keratins, helps to provide strength and resilience to the skin.
Related Terms
- Keratin: A type of protein that makes up your hair, skin, and nails. Keratins are also found in your internal organs and glands.
- Epidermis: The outermost of the three layers that make up the skin, the inner layers being the dermis and hypodermis.
- Cytokeratin: Any of a number of intermediate filament proteins that are found in the intracytoplasmic cytoskeleton of epithelial tissue.
- KRT14: Another type II cytokeratin, which pairs with KRT5 to form the keratin intermediate filament in the basal cells of the epidermis.
See Also
- Keratinocyte: The predominant cell type in the epidermis, the outermost layer of the skin, constituting 90% of the cells found there.
- Epithelial tissue: One of the four basic types of animal tissue, along with connective tissue, muscle tissue and nervous tissue.
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