The cornified envelope, located beneath the plasma membrane of terminally differentiated
keratinocytes, is formed as protein precursors are cross-linked by a membrane associated
transglutaminase. This report characterizes a new precursor to the cornified envelope. A
monoclonal antibody derived from mice immunized with cornified envelopes of human
cultured keratinocytes stained the periphery of more differentiated cells in epidermis and
other stratified squamous epithelia including hair and nails. The epitope was widely …