Cytokeratin 6b: Proteins and Enzymes

The protein encoded by the Cytokeratin 6b gene is a member of the keratin gene family. The type II cytokeratins consist of basic orneutral proteins which are arranged in pairs of heterotypic keratin chains coexpressed during differentiation ofsimple and stratified epithelial tissues. As many as six of this type II cytokeratin (KRT6) have been identified; themultiplicity of the genes is attributed to successive gene duplication events. The genes are expressed with familymembers KRT16 and/or KRT17 in the filiform papillae of the tongue, the stratified epithelial lining of oral mucosa andesophagus, the outer root sheath of hair follicles, and the glandular epithelia. Mutations in these genes have beenassociated with pachyonychia congenita. The type II cytokeratins are clustered in a region of chromosome 12q12-q13.(provided by RefSeq)