Desmosomal protein structure and function and the impact of disease-causing mutations

Highlights

• Desmosomes are vital for cell-cell adhesion in cardiac muscle and epithelial tissues.

• Genes encoding desmosomal proteins are mutated in heart and skin diseases.

• Wealth of structural information is now available for desmosomal proteins.

• Disease-related mutations can adversely impact desmosomal protein fold and function.

Abstract

In this graphical review we focus on the structural characteristics of desmosomal proteins, their interactions with each other and with the intermediate filament cytoskeleton. The wealth of structural information that is now available allows predictions to be made about the pathogenic effect of disease-causing mutations. We have selected representative examples of missense mutations that are buried, semi-buried or surface exposed, and demonstrate how such variants could affect the structural fold of desmosomal proteins that are expressed in the heart. We explain how such alterations could compromise desmosomal adhesion, resulting in life threatening diseases including arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy.