Desmoplakin (DP) is a component of desmosomes, critical adhesive complexes found in cardiac intercalated discs. DP is often mutated in arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (AC), an inherited disorder that is a frequent cause of sudden cardiac death. The disease progression of AC is characterized by cardiomyocyte cell death and replacement of the...
Desmosomal cadherins are a recent evolutionary innovation that make up the adhesive core of highly specialized intercellular junctions called desmosomes. Desmosomal cadherins, desmogleins and desmocollins, are related to the classical cadherins but their cytoplasmic domains are tailored for anchoring intermediate filaments instead of actin to sites of cell-cell adhesion. The...