Figure 2. Merlin is required for epidermal architecture and function in vivo.

(A) Immunoblotting of total epidermal lysates from three wild-type or K14-Cre;Nf2^lox/lox neonates reveals the loss of Merlin protein (arrow).

(B) K14-Cre;Nf2^lox/lox early postnatal (P4) mice are markedly runted and exhibit dry flaky skin.

(C–F) Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining of neonatal (P0) wild-type (C) or K14-Cre;Nf2^lox/lox (D) skin reveals that although the general epidermal organization is preserved in the absence of Merlin, the basal cell layer is expanded and often multilayered (arrows). This is highlighted by immunostaining for the basal cell marker Keratin 14 (red; E, F).

(G, H) The suprabasal marker Keratin 1 (red) stains all cells distal to K14-expressing cells in both the wild-type and K14-Cre;Nf2^lox/lox epidermis. β4-integrin (green) labels the basement membrane for reference in E–H.

(I, J) Marked disorganization of actin (green) is apparent in the early postnatal (P0) K14-Cre;Nf2^lox/lox skin. β4-integrin (red) labels the basement membrane. Bars, 40 μm.