Skin wound healing in riboflavin deficiency

Healing of excision and incision wounds was evaluated in riboflavin-deficient rats. The period taken for the epithelialization of excision wounds was 4 to 5 days longer in riboflavin-deficient animals compared to ad libitum-fed or food-restricted weight-matched control groups. Riboflavin deficiency as well as food restriction slowed the rate of wound contraction, the effect of riboflavin deficiency being of greater magnitude. The tensile strength of incision wounds in riboflavin deficiency was reduced to 42% of the ad libitum-fed control and 63% of the weight-matched control values. There was a decrease of 25% in total collagen content of incision wounds, in riboflavin deficiency and its maturity was drastically affected as indicated by a twofold increase in salt solubility (1 M NaCl) and a four-fold increase in the alpha/beta subunit ratio of salt-soluble collagen. Food restriction had similar effects but of lower magnitude. The data suggest that alteration in collagen content and maturity may be responsible for the lower tensile strength of incision wounds in riboflavin-deficient rats. This suggestion was supported by the results of a rehabilitation experiment.     

Influence of bleomycin on the crosslinking of dermal collagen in rat

The effect of bleomycin on dermal collagen crosslinking was studied in male albino rats. The skin samples were taken on the 28th day in both groups. Results showed that the percent reversibilities of neutral salt soluble collagen gels and the solubility of insoluble collagen in KCNS, urea or pronase were decreased in bleomycin treated animals whereas the aldehyde content was significantly increased in bleomycin treated animals compared to controls. The electrophoretic pattern of neutral salt soluble collagen on SDS-polyacrylamide gels revealed a marked decrease of alpha/beta ratio in bleomycin treated group. These results indicated that both the intra and inter molecular crosslinks of collagen were increased in the bleomycin treated group.     

Toxic effect of dimethoate on the crosslinking of gingival and uteral collagen in female albino rats fed with normal and high protein diets

The effect of dimethoate on gingival and uteral collagen crosslinking was studied in normal and high protein diets fed female albino rats. The gingival and uteral samples were collected from all the groups of rats and percent reversibility of neutral salt soluble collagen gel and the solubility of insoluble collagen in KCNS or urea were determined. The analysis of gingival and uteral samples showed alpha 1 and alpha 2 sub units of neutral salt soluble collagen appreciably increased beta chains and aldehyde content significantly decreased in dimethoate treated animals compared to controls. The results indicate that due to the effect of dimethoate, the crosslinking and maturation of collagen are impaired.     

Mechanism of impaired skin collagen maturity in riboflavin or pyridoxine deficiency

To elucidate the biochemical basis of impaired skin collagen maturity in pyridoxine-or riboflavin-deficient rats the following two mechanistic possibilities were tested: (i) Reduction in the activity of skin lysyl oxidase (EC 1·4·3·13) which initiates the cross-linking of collagen and (ii) putative rise in homocysteine level leading to neutralization of allysine (α-aminoadipic acid δ-5-semialdehyde)or hydroxyallysine (hydroxy α-aminoadepic acid (δ-semialdehyde) in collagen by the formation of thiazine complexes. Skin lysyl oxidase activity was not affected in pyridoxine deficiency suggesting that pyridoxal phosphate may not be its cofactor. In riboflavin deficiency, lysyl oxidase activity was not altered in the newly regenerated rat skin but a slight reduction was observed in the skin of 18-day-old rat pups. This could be related to the body weight deficit rather than deficiencyper se. Aldehyde content of purified salt soluble collagen of regenerated skin was significantly reduced in both the deficiencies. A 2 to 4-fold increase in the concentration of skin homocysteine was observed in both the deficiencies. The results suggest that increase in skin homocysteine level may be responsible for the impaired skin collagen maturity in riboflavin or pyridoxine deficiency.     

The isolation of collagen-associated proteoglycan from bovine nasal cartilage and its preferential interaction with alpha2 chains of type I collagen.

A collagen complex from bovine nasal cartilage was prepared by extraction of the tissue with 3M-MgCl2 solutions, by using two different procedures. When it was compared with calf skin acid-soluble tropocollagen by polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis, the 3M-MgCl2-soluble cartilage collagen in the complex appeared to be predominantly type I in nature, consisting of both alpha1 and alpha2 chains. The soluble cartilage collagens were digested with purified bacterial collagenase, and the soluble digests were fractionated on Sepharose 4B. Hydroxyproline-free proteoglycan was isolated in the excluded volume of the column eluate, and this was found to be an aggregate which could be dissociated to link proteins and proteoglycan subunit by equilibrium-density-gradient centrifugation in a CsCl-4M-guanidinium chloride gradient. Interaction with calf skin-soluble tropocollagen was studied by CM-cellulose chromatography. The link-protein system did not interact, but proteoglycan from the bottom of the gradient did interact. In addition, when proteoglycan subunit was allowed to interact with collagen, there was a preferential binding to the alpha2 and beta12 components, and this effect was also observed with the proteoglycan material obtained from the collagenase digests of 3M-MgCl2-soluble cartilage collagen complexes. However, specificity for alpha2 and beta12 chains was not exhibited by chondroitin sulphate glycosaminoglycan, and it is therefore concluded that preference for alpha2 and beta12 chains is a function of the intact proteoglycan structure.     

Hydralazine differentially increases mRNAs for the alpha and beta subunits of prolyl 4-hydroxylase whereas it decreases pro alpha 1(I) collagen mRNAs in human skin fibroblasts.

We have used specific oligonucleotide probes to measure the effect of hydralazine on mRNA levels of the alpha and beta subunits of prolyl 4-hydroxylase (PH), a key post-translational modifying enzyme in collagen biosynthesis. Hydralazine exerts a paradoxical effect on collagen biosynthesis in cultured fibroblasts. Cells exposed to hydralazine synthesize substantially reduced amounts of collagen, which is severely deficient in hydroxyproline. Surprisingly, however, the level of prolyl hydroxylase activity assayed in extracts of treated cells is markedly increased, suggesting overproduction of the enzyme. Hybridization analysis indicated that in untreated cells the concentration of the alpha PH subunit mRNA was about 20-25% of the beta PH subunit mRNA concentration. Hydralazine treatment increased the mRNAs for both alpha and beta subunits of PH by three- to fourfold. A differential induction of these mRNAs was observed, however. The alpha subunit mRNA was maximally increased within 24 h, whereas the beta subunit mRNA was increased more slowly, reaching a maximum at 72 h. In contrast, the 5.8 and 4.8-kb mRNAs for pro alpha 1(I) collagen were virtually eliminated by 72 h. This study demonstrates that the increased prolyl hydroxylase activity is a direct result of hydralazine-mediated increases in steady state mRNA content for the alpha and beta subunits of this enzyme. Moreover, the earlier induction of alpha PH mRNA may provide the first evidence at the mRNA level that regulation of PH activity occurs mainly through regulation of the alpha subunit of PH. In addition, the decrease in collagen synthesis by hydralazine appears to result directly from suppression of both species of mRNA for pro alpha 1(I) collagen.     

Analysis of Azotobacter vinelandii strains containing defined deletions in the nifD and nifK genes.

Strains of Azotobacter vinelandii which contain defined deletions within the nifD and nifK genes which encode, respectively, the alpha and beta subunits of the MoFe protein of nitrogenase were analyzed. When synthesized without its partner, the beta subunit accumulated as a soluble beta 4 tetramer. In contrast, when the alpha subunit was present without its partner, it accumulated primarily as an insoluble aggregate. The solubility of this protein was increased by the presence of a form of the beta subunit which contained a large internal deletion, such that the alpha subunit could participate in the assembly of small amounts of an alpha 2 beta 2 holoprotein. When synthesized alone, the beta subunit was remarkably stable, even when the protein contained a large internal deletion. The alpha subunit, however, was much more rapidly degraded than the beta subunit, both when it was synthesized alone in its native background and when it was synthesized with its beta subunit partner in a foreign background. Antibodies raised against purified alpha 2 beta 2 MoFe protein recognized epitopes only on the nondenatured beta subunit and not on the nondenatured alpha subunit. Our findings that all epitopes for the alpha2beta2 tetramer appeared to be on the beta subunit, that the beta subunit assembled into beta4 tetramers, and that the alpha subunit alone was very insoluble, combined with the previous finding that the Fe protein binds to the beta subunit (A. H. Willing, M. M. Georgiadis, D. C. Rees, and J. B. Howard, J. Biol. Chem. 264:8499-8503, 1989) all suggest that the beta subunit has a more surface location than the alpha subunit in the alpha2beta2 tetramer.     

Altered ratio of collagen chains in bone of a patient with non-lethal osteogenesis imperfecta.

Bone from a patient with osteogenesis imperfecta contained type III collagen which was absent in control bone. The ratio of alpha 1(I)/alpha 2(I) in type I collagen of patient's bone was increased (2.9 vs. 2.3 +/- 0.2 in controls) and the ratio of dimers beta 11/beta 12/beta 22 was altered due to the increased beta 22 content. No abnormality was observed in collagen from the patient's skin. The altered composition of collagen in bone, but the normal composition in skin suggests that the disease in the patient is due to impaired regulation of the synthesis of collagens in bone, rather than by a mutation in one of the two type I collagen genes. Unlike in skin, all the type III collagen in patient's bone was pepsin-soluble indicating an inability of the bone to incorporate type III collagen into mature highly cross-linked extracellular matrix.     

Isolation and properties of a preparation of arterial collagen solubilized by pretreatment with alkali (author's transl)]

The acid-soluble, highly cross-linked aorta collagen, of which about 30% can be converted into a soluble form by alkali treatment, followed by extraction with aetic acid, was obtained predominantly in the form of monomeric, helical molecules, as indicated by the value for the intrinsic viscosity and its behaviour in sodium dodecylsulphate disc electrophoresis. Apart from decreased values for tyrosine (0.26%), arginine (4.4%) and aspartic acid (3.9%), the amino acid composition of the aorta collagen fraction was similar to that of the acid-soluble calf skin collagen. This finding, together with the cyanogen bromide peptide pattern, shows that the collagen extracted from the artery is predominantly type I. Treatment with alkali probably shortens the alpha1-CB6-peptide by about 45 amino acids. The collagen extracted from artery was compared with acid soluble skin collagen by sodium dodecylsulphate polyacrylamide electrophoresis. The arterial collagen showed a marked increase in the rations alpha1 to alpha2 (4:1), alpha to beta (3:1) and beta11 to beta12 (2.5:1). Compared with acid soluble skin collagen, the aorta collagen contained twice as much galactose and glucose (13.5 and 9.6 nmol/mg protein respectively), which are bound to hydroxylysine. 50% of the hydroxylysine residues are unsubstituted, 15% are present as galactosyl hydroxylysine, and 35% as glucosyl-galactosyl hydroxylysine. On the basis of its reported properties, arterial collagen obtained by the method of Fujii appears to be a suitable substrate for the study of the enzymic synthesis and enzymic degradation of hydroxylysine glycosides of native arterial collagen.     

Increases in mRNA concentrations of the alpha and beta subunits of prolyl 4-hydroxylase accompany increased gene expression of type IV collagen during differentiation of mouse F9 cells.

Mouse F9 teratocarcinoma stem cells differentiate in monolayer cultures in the presence of retinoic acid, dibutyryl cAMP, and isobutyl methylxanthine. This differentiation is associated with a marked increase in the synthesis rates and mRNA concentrations of basement membrane proteins such as type IV collagen. We report here that the differentiation also involves an increase of up to 50-fold in the concentrations of the mRNAs for the alpha and beta subunits of prolyl 4-hydroxylase, the enzyme required for the cotranslational and post-translational hydroxylation of proline residues in collagens. The time courses and magnitudes of increases in these two mRNA concentrations were similar to those observed in the same experiments for the mRNA of the alpha chain of type IV collagen. In the differentiated F9 cells the concentration of the alpha subunit mRNA was about 30% of the beta subunit mRNA concentration. Northern blot analyses indicated that the sizes of the alpha and beta subunit mRNAs in the differentiated mouse F9 cells are similar to those in human skin fibroblasts. The F9 cell differentiation system appears to provide a useful model for studies on the regulation of prolyl 4-hydroxylase synthesis.     

alpha7B integrin changes in mdx mouse muscles after L-arginine administration

Muscle fibers attach to laminin in the basal lamina using two mechanisms, i.e., dystrophin with its associated proteins and alpha7beta1 integrin. In humans, gene-mutation defects in one member of these complexes result in muscular dystrophies. This study revealed changes after L-arginine treatment of utrophin-associated proteins and the alpha7B integrin subunit in mdx mouse, a dystrophin-deficient animal model. In the two studied muscles (cardiac muscle and diaphragm), the alpha7B integrin subunit was increased in 5-week-old treated mice. Interestingly, the diaphragm histopathological appearance was significantly improved by L-arginine administration. These results highlight a possible way to compensate for dystrophin deficiency via alpha7beta1 integrin.     

The effect of experimental diabetes on the molecular characteristics of soluble rat-tail tendon collagen

Acid soluble rat-tail tendon collagen was prepared from animals rendered diabetic by treatment with either streptozotocin or alloxan and from matched controls. In comparison to the normal, the diabetic collagens consistently demonstrated decreased solubility of reconstituted fibrils, marked increase in intrinsic viscosity and a decreased ratio of alpha to beta components. Electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels revealed a marked decrease in migration of alpha1, alpha2, and beta components from both types of diabetic collagen. These data indicate that diabetic collagens are larger than normal and are capable of higher degrees of polymerization due to increased intra- and inter-molecular interactions. These changes could explain, in part, the altered response of diabetic connective tissues to inflammation and trauma.     

Chemical changes associated with aging of collagen in vivo and in vitro

Collagen extracted from rat skin by neutral-salt solutions contains less aldehydes than the more insoluble collagen fractions. The concentration of aldehydes in collagen is directly related to its capacity to form stable cross-linked gels, which do not redissolve on cooling and become more insoluble in a variety of reagents. Whereas the absorption spectrum of neutral-salt-soluble collagen treated with N-methylbenzothiazolone hydrazone resembles that of acetaldehyde, the more insoluble collagen fractions show increasing amounts of a component that behaves like an alphabeta-unsaturated aldehyde. The ratio between alpha- and beta-sub-units present in a particular fraction of soluble collagen seems to be constant and independent of the age of the animal. Neutral-salt-soluble collagen, which has a low concentration of beta-components, will generate intramolecular bonds if gelled at 37 degrees . These intramolecular bonds seem to precede the formation of stable intermolecular cross-links, since these gels can redissolve when cooled to yield a soluble collagen with a higher content of beta-components of intramolecular origin.     

Calcium channel beta subunit promotes voltage-dependent modulation of alpha 1 B by G beta gamma

Voltage-dependent calcium channels (VDCCs) are heteromultimers composed of a pore-forming alpha1 subunit and auxiliary subunits, including the intracellular beta subunit, which has a strong influence on the channel properties. Voltage-dependent inhibitory modulation of neuronal VDCCs occurs primarily by activation of G-proteins and elevation of the free G beta gamma dimer concentration. Here we have examined the interaction between the regulation of N-type (alpha 1 B) channels by their beta subunits and by G beta gamma dimers, heterologously expressed in COS-7 cells. In contrast to previous studies suggesting antagonism of G protein inhibition by the VDCC beta subunit, we found a significantly larger G beta gamma-dependent inhibition of alpha 1 B channel activation when the VDCC alpha 1 B and beta subunits were coexpressed. In the absence of coexpressed VDCC beta subunit, the G beta gamma dimers, either expressed tonically or elevated via receptor activation, did not produce the expected features of voltage-dependent G protein modulation of N-type channels, including slowed activation and prepulse facilitation, while VDCC beta subunit coexpression restored all of the hallmarks of G beta gamma modulation. These results suggest that the VDCC beta subunit must be present for G beta gamma to induce voltage-dependent modulation of N-type calcium channels.     

The induction of cross-links in soluble rat skin collagen in vitro

1. Starch-gel electrophoresis was used to investigate the subunit composition of salt-soluble and acid-soluble rat skin collagen. 2. Cross-linkage of collagen subunits in vitro was performed (a) when in fibrillar form and (b) when in solution. In the former case the increase in number of cross-links appeared to be predominantly intermolecular and in the latter case predominantly intramolecular.     

Solubility of calcium salts of unconjugated and conjugated natural bile acids.

The approximate solubility products of the calcium salts of ten unconjugated bile acids and several taurine conjugated bile acids were determined. The formation of micelles, gels, and/or precipitates in relation to Ca2+,Na+, and bile salt concentration was summarized by "phase maps." Because the ratio of Ca2+ to bile salt in the precipitates was ca. 1:2, and the activity of Ca2+ but not that of bile salt (BA-) could be measured, the ion product of aCa2+ [BA-]2 was calculated. The ion product (= Ksp) ranged over nine orders of magnitude and the solubility thus ranged over three orders of magnitude; its value depended on the number and orientation of the hydroxyl groups in the bile acid. Ion products (in units of 10(-9) mol/l)3 were as follows: cholic (3 alpha OH,7 alpha OH,12 alpha OH) 640; ursocholic (3 alpha OH,7 beta OH,12 alpha OH) 2300; hyocholic (3 alpha OH,6 alpha OH,7 alpha OH) 11; ursodeoxycholic (3 alpha OH,7 beta OH) 91; chenodeoxycholic (3 alpha OH,7 alpha OH) 10; deoxycholic (3 alpha OH,12 alpha OH) 1.5; 12-epideoxycholic (lagodeoxycholic, 3 alpha OH,12 beta OH) 2.2; hyodeoxycholic (3 alpha OH,6 alpha OH) 0.7; and lithocholic (3 alpha OH) 0.00005. The critical micellization temperature of the sodium salt of murideoxycholic acid (3 alpha OH,6 beta OH) was greater than 100 degrees C, and its Ca2+ salt was likely to be very insoluble. Taurine conjugates were much more soluble than their corresponding unconjugated derivatives: chenodeoxycholyltaurine, 384; deoxycholyltaurine, 117; and cholyltaurine, greater than 10,000. Calcium salts of unconjugated bile acids precipitated rapidly in contrast to those of glycine conjugates which were metastable for months. Thus, hepatic conjugation of bile acids with taurine or glycine not only enhances solubility at acidic pH, but also at Ca2+ ion concentrations present in bile and intestinal content.     

Integrins alpha(6A)beta 1 and alpha(6B)beta 1 promote different stages of chondrogenic cell differentiation

The differentiation of chondrocytes and of several other cell types is associated with a switch from the alpha(6B) to the alpha(6A) isoform of the laminin alpha(6)beta(1) integrin receptor. To define whether this event plays a functional role in cell differentiation, we used an in vitro model system that allows chick chondrogenic cells to remain undifferentiated when cultured in monolayer and to differentiate into chondrocytes when grown in suspension culture. We report that: (i) upon over-expression of the human alpha(6B), adherent chondrogenic cells differentiate to stage I chondrocytes (i.e. increased type II collagen, reduced type I collagen, fibronectin, alpha(5)beta(1) and growth rate, loss of fibroblast morphology); (ii) the expression of type II collagen requires the activation of p38 MAP kinase; (iii) the over-expression of alpha(6A) induces an incomplete differentiation to stage I chondrocytes, whereas no differentiation was observed in alpha(5) and mock-transfected control cells; (iv) a prevalence of the alpha(6A) subunit is necessary to stabilize the differentiated phenotype when cells are transferred to suspension culture. Altogether, these results indicate a functional role for the alpha(6B) to alpha(6A) switch in chondrocyte differentiation; the former promotes chondrocyte differentiation, and the latter is necessary in stabilizing the differentiated phenotype.     

Biochemical characterization of guanidinium chloride-soluble dentine collagen from lathyritic-rat incisors.

alpha- and beta-Chains were isolated by sequential ion-exchange and gel-filtration chromatography of guanidinium chloride-soluble dentine collagen obtained from Tris/NaCl-extracted EDTA-demineralized lathyritic-rat incisors. The alpha-chains were identified as alpha 1 I and alpha 2 by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis and amino acid analysis of the intact chains and their CNBr peptides. The dentine alpha-chains exhibited higher lysine hydroxylation and phosphate content, but lower hydroxylysine glycosylation, than alpha-chains from skin. Increased lysine hydroxylation was observed in the helical sequences. The alpha 1 I/alpha 2 ratio was approx. 3:1, and was presumably due to the presence of (alpha 1 I)3 molecules along with (alpha 1 I)2 alpha 2 molecules as shown recently for neutral-salt-soluble dentine collagen [Wohllebe & Carmichael (1978) Eur. J. Biochem. 92, 183--188]. In the borohydride-reduced beta 11- and beta 12-chains from guanidinium chloride-soluble dentine collagen, the reduced cross-links hydroxylysinohydroxynorleucine and hydroxylysinonorleucine were present. A higher proportion of hydroxylysinonorleucine in the reduced beta 12-chain probably reflects differences in extent of hydroxylation of specific lysine residues of the alpha 1 I- and alpha 2-chains.     

A soluble form of bovine rod photoreceptor phosphodiesterase has a novel 15-kDa subunit

A substantial fraction (20-30%) of the bovine rod outer segment phosphodiesterase (PDE) activity is not associated with outer segment membranes prepared with buffers of moderate ionic strength; this PDE activity appears to represent a distinct, soluble isozyme. Although this PDE isozyme can be demonstrated to be present in sealed rod outer segments, it is discarded from most standard rod outer segment preparations. A method was developed that allowed the rapid purification of the soluble rod PDE by 2600-fold, to apparent homogeneity, using a monoclonal antibody column (ROS-1a). The soluble rod PDE isozyme has a novel Mr = 15,000 subunit (delta) in addition to subunits of Mr = 88,000 (alpha sol), 84,000 (beta sol), and 11,000 (gamma sol). The delta subunit comigrates with and may be identical to the cone PDE 15-kDa subunit. The small subunits of the soluble rod PDE and the membrane-associated rod PDE were isolated by reverse-phase chromatography. The gamma sol subunit was a potent inhibitor of trypsin-activated rod PDE, inhibiting 50% of 1 pM PDE activity at a concentration of 11 pM. This concentration was similar to that observed for the gamma subunit of the membrane-associated rod PDE. The purified delta subunit did not appear to affect PDE activity; this subunit was, however, unusually difficult to keep in solution. All of the kinetic and physical properties of the soluble rod PDE tested thus far are similar to those of the membrane-associated form, except for the presence of the delta subunit, suggesting that this unique subunit could mediate the solubility of the soluble rod PDE and the cone PDE in the intact photoreceptor.     

The role of integrins alpha 2 beta 1 and alpha 3 beta 1 in cell-cell and cell-substrate adhesion of human epidermal cells

We have examined cultures of neonatal human foreskin keratinocytes (HFKs) to determine the ligands and functions of integrins alpha 2 beta 1, and alpha 3 beta 1 in normal epidermal stratification and adhesion to the basement membrane zone (BMZ) in skin. We used three assay systems, HFK adhesion to purified extracellular matrix (ECM) ligands and endogenous secreted ECM, localization of integrins in focal adhesions (FAs), and inhibition of HFK adhesion with mAbs to conclude: (a) A new anti-alpha 3 beta 1 mAb, P1F2, localized alpha 3 beta 1 in FAs on purified laminin greater than fibronectin/collagen, indicating that laminin was the best exogeneous ligand for alpha 3 beta 1. However, in long term culture, alpha 3 beta 1 preferentially codistributed in and around FAs with secreted laminin-containing ECM, in preference to exogenous laminin. Anti-alpha 3 beta 1, mAb P1B5, detached prolonged cultures of HFKs from culture plates or from partially purified HFK ECM indicating that interaction of alpha 3 beta 1 with the secreted laminin-containing ECM was primarily responsible for HFK adhesion in long term culture. (b) In FA assays, alpha 2 beta 1 localized in FAs conincident with initial HFK adhesion to exogenous collagen, but not laminin or fibronectin. However, in inhibition assays, anti-alpha 2 beta 1 inhibited initial HFK adhesion to both laminin and collagen. Thus, alpha 2 beta 1 contributes to initial HFK adhesion to laminin but alpha 3 beta 1 is primarily responsible for long-term HFK adhesion to secreted laminin-containing ECM. (c) Serum or Ca2(+)-induced aggregation of HFKs resulted in relocation of alpha 2 beta 1 and alpha 3 beta 1 from FAs to cell-cell contacts. Further, cell-cell adhesion was inhibited by anti-alpha 3 beta 1 (P1B5) and a new anti-beta 1 mAb (P4C10). Thus, interaction of alpha 3 beta 1 with either ECM or membrane coreceptors at cell-cell contacts may facilitate Ca2(+)-induced HFK aggregation. (d) It is suggested that interaction of alpha 3 beta 1 with a secreted, laminin-containing ECM in cultured HFKs, duplicates the role of alpha 3 beta 1 in basal cell adhesion to the BMZ in skin. Further, relocation of alpha 2 beta 1 and alpha 3 beta 1 to cell-cell contacts may result in detachment of cells from the BMZ and increased cell-cell adhesion in the suprabasal cells contributing to stratification of the skin.