The role of c-myc in the process of keratinocyte differentiation

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Project objective

Research objectives and content The epidermis forms the outer covering of the skin. Keratinocytes, the major cell type of the epidermis, are organized into four distinct types of cell layers: basal, spinous, granular and cornified. The proliferative compartment, the basal layer, contains at least two types of keratinocyte: stem cells with an unlimited capacity for self-renewal, and transit amplifying cells which withdraw from the cell cycle and differentiate after a few rounds of division. Stem cells express two fold higher surface levels of betel integrins than transit amplifying cells. The transcription factor c-Myc stimulates terminal differentiation by driving entry of stem cell progeny into the transit amplifying cell compartment. The objectives of this project are first to study the in vivo effects of overexpressing c-Myc in keratinocytes using transgenic mice, and second, to find out whether in keratinocytes integrin genes are directly regulated by c-Myc. Training content (objective, benefit and expected impact) The project will allow me to join the field of differentiation processes and to be trained in mammalian molecular biology, mammalian cell culture and histological techniques. Links with industry / industrial relevance (22) l

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Participants

• Imperial Cancer Research Fund · LondonCoordinatorUnited Kingdom

Links

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