Fate of desmosomal proteins in apoptotic epidermal cells.

In epidermal cells desmosomes represent major sites of basolateral cell-cell contacts that play an important role for epidermal homeostasis. Excess or damaged cells are often removed by apoptosis. To release apoptotic cells from the tissue, intercellular contacts have to be broken. Here detailed protocols to analyze desmosomal proteins in apoptotic cells are described.