Human Desmoglein-4 Antibody

Desmoglein-4 (DSG4) is ~ 110 kDa type I transmembrane glycoprotein in the cadherin family of calcium-dependent cell adhesion molecules. Desmogleins interact with transmembrane Desmocollins to form the adhesive components of desmosomes on epithelial cells. Desmoglein-4 contains four cadherin repeats in its extracellular region and two desmoglein repeat domains in its cytoplasmic region. Alternate splicing generates an additional isoform with a substitution in the cytoplasmic region. Desmoglein-4 is expressed on keratinocytes and trichocytes in the epidermis and hair follicles. It is required for hair follicle development, and DSG4 mutations are associated with autosomal recessive hypotrichosis. Within amino acids 24-631 (which includes the 26 aa propeptide and the ECD), human Desmoglein-4 shares 82% aa sequence identity with mouse and rat Desmoglein-4.