Transcriptional network of p63 in human keratinocytes

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 4; no. 3; p. e5008
• Main Authors: Pozzi, Silvia, Zambelli, Federico, Merico, Daniele, Pavesi, Giulio, Robert, Amélie, Maltère, Peggy, Gidrol, Xavier, Mantovani, Roberto, Vigano, M Alessandra
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 25.03.2009; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Binding sites; Bioinformatics; Cell cycle; Cloning; Computer science; Deoxyribonucleic acid; Dermatology; Dermatology/Pediatric Skin Diseases, including Genetic Diseases; Developmental Biology/Cell Differentiation; DNA; Ectoderm - growth & development; Epithelium - growth & development; Gene expression; Gene Expression Regulation; Gene regulation; Gene Regulatory Networks - genetics; Genes; Genetic aspects; Genomes; Humans; Keratinocytes; Keratinocytes - metabolism; Molecular Biology/Bioinformatics; Molecular Biology/Chromatin Structure; Molecular Biology/Transcription Initiation and Activation; Mutation; Open access; Skin; Skin - cytology; Skin - growth & development; Stem cells; Target recognition; Tissues; Trans-Activators - genetics; Trans-Activators - metabolism; Transcription (Genetics); Transcription Factors; Tumor Suppressor Proteins - genetics; Tumor Suppressor Proteins - metabolism
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0005008

p63 is a transcription factor required for the development and maintenance of ectodermal tissues in general, and skin keratinocytes in particular. The identification of its target genes is fundamental for understanding the complex network of gene regulation governing the development of epithelia. We report a list of almost 1000 targets derived from ChIP on chip analysis on two platforms; all genes analyzed changed in expression during differentiation of human keratinocytes. Functional annotation highlighted unexpected GO terms enrichments and confirmed that genes involved in transcriptional regulation are the most significant. A detailed analysis of these transcriptional regulators in condition of perturbed p63 levels confirmed the role of p63 in the regulatory network. Rather than a rigid master-slave hierarchical model, our data indicate that p63 connects different hubs involved in the multiple specific functions of the skin.