KRT16 Gene

The KRT16 gene (KRT16, keratin 16) is a protein-coding gene, a member of the keratin gene family, located on chromosome 17q21.2. Diseases associated with KRT16 include:

• Pachyonychia congenita 1(Xu Q et al 2019).
• The non-epidermolytic focal palmoplantar keratosis.

Associated metabolic pathways include developmental biology and keratinization. Thus, it has been demonstrated that the expression levels of KRT16, p-ERK1/2, and VEGF are significantly increased in the lesional psoriatic tissues Chen JG et al. (2019) demonstrated that siRNA-mediated silencing (in gene silencing, gene regulation occurs by inhibiting the transfer (transcription) of a genetic information from DNA to mRNA or the subsequent translation of the information stored on the mRNA into a protein) of KRT16 was able to inhibit keratinocyte proliferation and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) secretion in psoriasis. Keratinocytes treated with KRT16-siRNA and KRT16-siRNA + PD98059 showed decreased KRT16, p-ERK1/2 and VEGF expression. Cell survival in cells treated with KRT16-siRNA, PD98059 and KRT16-siRNA + PD98059 was significantly reduced.

An important paralog of the KRT16 gene is the KRT14 gene

Keratins are intermediate filament proteins responsible for the structural integrity of epithelial cells. They are divided into cytokeratins and hair keratins. Most cytokeratins (alpha-keratins) consist of acidic proteins arranged in pairs of heterotypic keratin chains clustered in a region of chromosome 17q12-q21.

Alpha-keratins are the main component of the stratum corneum of the epidermis as well as of hair and nails. The strength of the alpha-keratins is enhanced by fiber formation. In this process, the individual amino acid chains form a right-handed alpha-helix. Several of these helices form a left-handed superhelix, a protofibril. Several protofibrils unite again to form microfibrils, which are now organized in keratin bundles and are called macrofibrils in this bundle. The consolidation of the collagen fibers occurs through cross-linking by means of disulfide bridges. Thus, the keratin in horny material and nails is more cross-linked than the keratin in hair. In various diseases, e.g. in the disease group of ichthyoses and palmoplantar keratoses, there are different genetically induced disorders of keratin structure and function.

1. Chen JG et al (2019) Silencing KRT16 inhibits keratinocyte proliferation and VEGF secretion in psoriasis via inhibition of ERK signaling pathway. Kaohsiung J Med Sci 35:284-296.
2. Xu Q et al. (2019) KRT16 mutation in the first Chinese pedigree with Pachyonychia congenita and review of the literatures. J Cosmet Dermatol18: 1930-1934.
3. Zhang X et al. (2019) Keratin 6, 16 and 17-Critical Barrier Alarmin Molecules in Skin Wounds and Psoriasis. Cells 8: 807.