Desmoglein-3, soluble Recombinant Protein

Desmoglein3, also known as pemphigus vulgaris antigen (PVA), is a 130 kDa transmembrane glycoprotein that belongs to the cadherin family of calcium dependent adhesion molecules. Human Desmoglein3 is synthesized with a 26 amino acid (aa) propeptide. The mature protein consists of a 566 aa extracellular domain (ECD) that contains four cadherinlike domains, a 25 aa transmembrane segment, and a 359 aa cytoplasmic domain. Within the ECD, human Desmoglein3 shares 78% aa sequence identity with mouse and rat Desmoglein3. It shares 44%, 47%, and 56% aa sequence identity with Desmoglein1, 2, and 4 respectively. Desmoglein3 is one of the principal components of desmosomes which form adhesive contacts between epithelial cells. It is expressed in the basal and suprabasal layers of stratified epithelia in many tissues. During apoptosis, Desmoglein3 is cleaved by caspases, plus MMP2, and MMP9 at sites within the cytoplasmic and extracellular regions, resulting in shortened transmembrane forms and a soluble 75 kDa ECD fragment. The downregulation of Desmoglein3 in oral squamous cell carcinoma correlates with metastatic potential. Desmoglein3 is the target of autoantibodies in pemphigus vulgaris, a blistering skin disorder with compromised interkeratinocyte adhesion. Binding of these antibodies triggers Desmoglein3 internalization and degradation by keratinocytes.