The Story of the Finest Armor: Developmental Aspects of Reptile Skin
The reptile skin is a barrier against water loss and pathogens and an armor for mechanical damages. The integument of reptiles consists of two main layers: the epidermis and the dermis. The epidermis, the hard cover of the body which has an armor-like role, varies among extant reptiles in terms of s...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Developmental Biology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2221-3759/11/1/5 |
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| author | Melodi Yenmiş Dinçer Ayaz |
| author_facet | Melodi Yenmiş Dinçer Ayaz |
| author_sort | Melodi Yenmiş |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The reptile skin is a barrier against water loss and pathogens and an armor for mechanical damages. The integument of reptiles consists of two main layers: the epidermis and the dermis. The epidermis, the hard cover of the body which has an armor-like role, varies among extant reptiles in terms of structural aspects such as thickness, hardness or the kinds of appendages it constitutes. The reptile epithelial cells of the epidermis (keratinocytes) are composed of two main proteins: intermediate filament keratins (IFKs) and corneous beta proteins (CBPs). The outer horny layer of the epidermis, stratum corneum, is constituted of keratinocytes by means of terminal differentiation or cornification which is a result of the protein interactions where CBPs associate with and coat the initial scaffold of IFKs. Reptiles were able to colonize the terrestrial environment due to the changes in these epidermal structures, which led to various cornified epidermal appendages such as scales and scutes, a beak, claws or setae. Developmental and structural aspects of the epidermal CBPs as well as their shared chromosomal locus (EDC) indicate an ancestral origin that gave rise to the finest armor of reptilians. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:20:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2db1f41c92a0446bb5435522a1397dfb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2221-3759 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:20:55Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Developmental Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-2db1f41c92a0446bb5435522a1397dfb2023-11-17T11:53:42ZengMDPI AGJournal of Developmental Biology2221-37592023-01-01111510.3390/jdb11010005The Story of the Finest Armor: Developmental Aspects of Reptile SkinMelodi Yenmiş0Dinçer Ayaz1Biology Department, Faculty of Science, Ege University, Bornova, 35050 İzmir, TurkeyBiology Department, Faculty of Science, Ege University, Bornova, 35050 İzmir, TurkeyThe reptile skin is a barrier against water loss and pathogens and an armor for mechanical damages. The integument of reptiles consists of two main layers: the epidermis and the dermis. The epidermis, the hard cover of the body which has an armor-like role, varies among extant reptiles in terms of structural aspects such as thickness, hardness or the kinds of appendages it constitutes. The reptile epithelial cells of the epidermis (keratinocytes) are composed of two main proteins: intermediate filament keratins (IFKs) and corneous beta proteins (CBPs). The outer horny layer of the epidermis, stratum corneum, is constituted of keratinocytes by means of terminal differentiation or cornification which is a result of the protein interactions where CBPs associate with and coat the initial scaffold of IFKs. Reptiles were able to colonize the terrestrial environment due to the changes in these epidermal structures, which led to various cornified epidermal appendages such as scales and scutes, a beak, claws or setae. Developmental and structural aspects of the epidermal CBPs as well as their shared chromosomal locus (EDC) indicate an ancestral origin that gave rise to the finest armor of reptilians.https://www.mdpi.com/2221-3759/11/1/5reptileepidermiskeratinproteindevelopmentorigin |
| spellingShingle | Melodi Yenmiş Dinçer Ayaz The Story of the Finest Armor: Developmental Aspects of Reptile Skin Journal of Developmental Biology reptile epidermis keratin protein development origin |
| title | The Story of the Finest Armor: Developmental Aspects of Reptile Skin |
| title_full | The Story of the Finest Armor: Developmental Aspects of Reptile Skin |
| title_fullStr | The Story of the Finest Armor: Developmental Aspects of Reptile Skin |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Story of the Finest Armor: Developmental Aspects of Reptile Skin |
| title_short | The Story of the Finest Armor: Developmental Aspects of Reptile Skin |
| title_sort | story of the finest armor developmental aspects of reptile skin |
| topic | reptile epidermis keratin protein development origin |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2221-3759/11/1/5 |
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