Molecular analysis of connexin26 asparagine14 mutations associated with syndromic skin phenotypes

Mutations in connexin26, a cutaneous gap junction protein, cause a wide variety of skin disorders including keratitis-ichthyosis-deafness syndrome (KID). We previously delineated a phenotype distinct from KID, hypotrichosis-deafness syndrome, caused by the mutation p.Asn14Lys in connexin26. However, a different mutation at the same location, p.Asn14Tyr, was reported to cause a disorder similar to KID. Distinct substitutions cause different conformational changes to the protein, each with unique consequences for its behaviour. This may explain the phenotypic differences.