KRT12

gene
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Also known as K12

Summary

KRT12 (keratin 12, HGNC:6414) is a protein-coding gene on chromosome 17q21.2, encoding Keratin, type I cytoskeletal 12 (Q99456). Involved in corneal epithelium organization, integrity and corneal keratin expression.

KRT12 encodes the type I intermediate filament chain keratin 12, expressed in corneal epithelia. Mutations in this gene lead to Meesmann corneal dystrophy.

Source: NCBI Gene 3859 — RefSeq curated summary.

At a glance

  • Gene–disease (curated): corneal dystrophy, Meesmann, 1 (Definitive, GenCC) — +1 more curated relationship
  • Clinical variants (ClinVar): 105 total — 8 pathogenic, 1 likely-pathogenic
  • Phenotypes (HPO): 7
  • MANE Select transcript: NM_000223

Identifiers

Gene identifiers

FieldValue
HGNC IDHGNC:6414
Approved symbolKRT12
Namekeratin 12
Location17q21.2
Locus typegene with protein product
StatusApproved
AliasesK12
Ensembl geneENSG00000187242
Ensembl biotypeprotein_coding
OMIM601687
Entrez3859

Gene structure

Transcript identifiers

Ensembl transcripts: 5 — 2 protein_coding, 2 retained_intron, 1 protein_coding_CDS_not_defined

ENST00000251643, ENST00000647902, ENST00000648126, ENST00000648535, ENST00000650597

RefSeq mRNA: 1 — MANE Select: NM_000223 NM_000223

CCDS: CCDS11378

Canonical transcript exons

ENST00000251643 — 8 exons

ExonStartEnd
ENSE000003951144086348540863610
ENSE000007211294086256540862635
ENSE000007211804086312340863343
ENSE000007211854086370340863864
ENSE000007211904086480640864962
ENSE000008634354086130340861758
ENSE000008634364086662040867223
ENSE000023595004086615540866237

Expression profiles

Bgee: expression breadth broad, 83 present calls, max score 88.71.

FANTOM5 (CAGE): breadth tissue_specific, TPM avg 0.1483 / max 194.9977, expressed in 21 samples.

FANTOM5 promoters (2 alternative TSS)

Promoter IDTPM avgSamples expressed
1658420.11844
1658410.029818

Top tissues by expression

105 total, by Bgee expression score (0-100, higher = more expressed):

TissueAnatomy IDExpression scoreQuality
primordial germ cell in gonadCL:0000670 ∩ UBERON:000099188.71gold quality
male germ line stem cell (sensu Vertebrata) in testisCL:0000089 ∩ UBERON:000047387.59gold quality
mucosa of transverse colonUBERON:000499182.96gold quality
neuron projection bundle connecting eye with brainUBERON:000490479.16silver quality
eyeUBERON:000097073.42gold quality
duodenumUBERON:000211461.96gold quality
transverse colonUBERON:000115760.69gold quality
skin of abdomenUBERON:000141659.65gold quality
rectumUBERON:000105258.56gold quality
small intestineUBERON:000210858.28gold quality
small intestine Peyer’s patchUBERON:000345458.25gold quality
zone of skinUBERON:000001457.43gold quality
skin of legUBERON:000151155.64gold quality
intestineUBERON:000016051.56gold quality
colonUBERON:000115549.31gold quality
vaginaUBERON:000099648.83gold quality
ectocervixUBERON:001224948.69gold quality
esophagus mucosaUBERON:000246948.54gold quality
olfactory segment of nasal mucosaUBERON:000538646.79gold quality
uterine cervixUBERON:000000246.65gold quality
gall bladderUBERON:000211046.33gold quality
descending thoracic aortaUBERON:000234544.32gold quality
sural nerveUBERON:001548843.48silver quality
left uterine tubeUBERON:000130343.02gold quality
vermiform appendixUBERON:000115442.64gold quality
urinary bladderUBERON:000125542.48gold quality
endocervixUBERON:000045842.17gold quality
metanephros cortexUBERON:001053341.89gold quality
endometriumUBERON:000129541.33gold quality
fallopian tubeUBERON:000388941.00gold quality

Single-cell (SCXA)

Detected in 1 experiment(s), a significant marker in 0.

ExperimentMarker?Max mean expression
E-ANND-3no0.42

Regulation

Is transcription factor: no

Upstream regulators (CollecTRI, top): KLF6, PAX6

miRNA regulators (miRDB)

32 targeting KRT12, top 30 by miRDB confidence (max_score; target_count = how many genes the miRNA targets in total — lower means more specific):

miRNAMax scoreAvg scoremiRNA target_count
HSA-MIR-6873-3P100.0071.422626
HSA-MIR-9-3P99.9670.882068
HSA-MIR-23A-3P99.9574.243163
HSA-MIR-23B-3P99.9574.243163
HSA-MIR-23C99.9573.923192
HSA-MIR-4694-3P99.7969.532640
HSA-MIR-548AG99.7769.251492
HSA-MIR-4766-5P99.7569.232662
HSA-MIR-556-3P99.7468.751203
HSA-MIR-548BA99.6969.141514
HSA-MIR-548AI99.6969.241494
HSA-MIR-570-5P99.6969.241494
HSA-MIR-486-3P99.5166.821901
HSA-MIR-57899.4668.361787
HSA-MIR-513A-3P99.3970.633620
HSA-MIR-513C-3P99.3970.633620
HSA-MIR-442799.3470.331854
HSA-MIR-146A-3P99.1368.991881
HSA-MIR-3606-3P99.1169.843254
HSA-MIR-6506-5P99.0465.661386
HSA-MIR-6796-3P98.6865.49689
HSA-MIR-548AO-5P98.5569.571362
HSA-MIR-548AX98.5569.581362
HSA-MIR-5089-5P98.4566.061388
HSA-MIR-1212098.0568.441768
HSA-MIR-61897.6267.46861
HSA-MIR-409-5P97.3168.07364
HSA-MIR-134-5P97.1166.52976
HSA-MIR-311897.1166.58984
HSA-MIR-4714-5P97.0467.76955

Literature-anchored findings (GeneRIF, showing 16)

  • Heterozygous Ala137Pro mutation in keratin 12 gene found in Japanese with Meesmann’s corneal dystrophy. (PMID:12543196)
  • A novel missense mutation (Y429C) in KRT12 lead to MCD in 2 unrelated Taiwanese families. (PMID:16227835)
  • Mutation in the KRT12 gene is associated with Meesmann corneal dystrophy (PMID:16352477)
  • Mutation associated with symptomatic phenotype of Meesmann’s corneal dystrophy. Results in substitution of proline for arginine in helix termination motif that may disrupt normal helix, leading to dramatic structural change of keratin 12 protein. (PMID:17653038)
  • This is the second family recently diagnosed with Meesmann dystrophy in Denmark. The family represents its own distinct genotype, independent of previously reported ones. All patients with microcysts were asymptomatic. (PMID:18245975)
  • The novel L433R mutation of the KRT12 gene found in two members of this Japanese family caused Meesmann corneal dystrophy (MECD). (PMID:18661274)
  • Novel missense mutation within the highly conserved helix-initiation motif of KRT12 causing Meesmann’s corneal dystrophy in a German family. (PMID:20577595)
  • The Leu132Pro missense mutation is within the helix-initiation motif of the keratin and is predicted to result in a significant structural change of the K12 protein. (PMID:23222558)
  • The lead siRNA, with an IC(50) of thirty picomolar, showed no keratin off-target effects or activation of TLR3 in the concentration ranges tested. (PMID:23233254)
  • Exon sequencing of KRT3 and KRT12 in six affected and eight unaffected individuals did not detect any mutations or nucleotide sequence variants in Meesmann epithelial corneal dystrophy. (PMID:23569037)
  • We identified a novel missense mutation of the KRT12 gene in Meesmann corneal dystrophy. The in vivo confocal microscopy examinations revealed previously unreported depth-dependent ultrastructural changes in the living cornea. (PMID:24099278)
  • Combined with an effective delivery vehicle this siRNA approach represents a viable treatment option for prevention of the MECD pathology observed in K12-Leu132Pro heterozygous individuals. (PMID:24801514)
  • we show that the two PAX6 isoforms differentially and cooperatively regulate the expression of genes specific to the structure and functions of the corneal epithelium, particularly keratin 3 (KRT3) and keratin 12 (KRT12). PAX6 isoform-a induced KRT3 expression by targeting its upstream region. KLF4 enhanced this induction. A combination of PAX6 isoform-b, KLF4, and OCT4 induced KRT12 expression (PMID:26899008)
  • KC can co-exist with GCD. The missense mutation (c.370G > A) in the TGFBI gene and insert mutation (c.1456-1457ins GAT) in the KRT12 gene were identified in a 23-year-old male patient with concurrent KC and GCD. (PMID:28567551)
  • RT-PCR showed that K3 and K12 transcripts were absent from patient cells, but present in healthy control preparations. (PMID:29162348)
  • We identified a heterozygous genetic mutation (c.394 C>G, p.L132V) in the KRT12 gene in six Japanese patients with inherited Meesmann corneal dystrophy. This is the first study to confirm this genetic mutation in Japanese Meesmann corneal dystrophy patients. This mutation has been independently reported in an American Meesmann corneal dystrophy patient, confirming its pathogenicity. (PMID:30535821)

Cross-species orthologs

2 orthologs

OrganismSymbolGene ID
mus_musculusKrt12ENSMUSG00000020912
rattus_norvegicusKrt12ENSRNOG00000011986

Paralogs (68): KRT33A (ENSG00000006059), VIM (ENSG00000026025), KRT31 (ENSG00000094796), NEFM (ENSG00000104722), KRT23 (ENSG00000108244), KRT37 (ENSG00000108417), KRT32 (ENSG00000108759), KRT18 (ENSG00000111057), LMNB1 (ENSG00000113368), KRT36 (ENSG00000126337), KRT17 (ENSG00000128422), GFAP (ENSG00000131095), KRT34 (ENSG00000131737), KRT33B (ENSG00000131738), NES (ENSG00000132688), PRPH (ENSG00000135406), KRT85 (ENSG00000135443), KRT7 (ENSG00000135480), KRT71 (ENSG00000139648), INA (ENSG00000148798), LMNTD1 (ENSG00000152936), LMNA (ENSG00000160789), KRT84 (ENSG00000161849), KRT82 (ENSG00000161850), KRT80 (ENSG00000167767), KRT1 (ENSG00000167768), KRT24 (ENSG00000167916), KRT8 (ENSG00000170421), KRT78 (ENSG00000170423), KRT86 (ENSG00000170442), KRT75 (ENSG00000170454), KRT6C (ENSG00000170465), KRT4 (ENSG00000170477), KRT74 (ENSG00000170484), KRT72 (ENSG00000170486), KRT83 (ENSG00000170523), BFSP2 (ENSG00000170819), KRT19 (ENSG00000171345), KRT15 (ENSG00000171346), KRT38 (ENSG00000171360)

Protein

Protein identifiers

Keratin, type I cytoskeletal 12Q99456 (reviewed: Q99456)

Alternative names: Cytokeratin-12, Keratin-12

All UniProt accessions (2): A0A3B3ITG2, Q99456

UniProt curated annotations — full annotation on UniProt →

Function. Involved in corneal epithelium organization, integrity and corneal keratin expression.

Subunit / interactions. Heterotetramer of two type I and two type II keratins. Keratin-3 associates with keratin-12.

Tissue specificity. Expressed in the corneal epithelium (at protein level).

Disease relevance. Corneal dystrophy, Meesmann 1 (MECD1) [MIM:122100] A form of Meesmann corneal dystrophy, a corneal disease characterized by fragility of the anterior corneal epithelium. Histological examination shows a disorganized and thickened epithelium with widespread cytoplasmic vacuolation and numerous small, round, debris-laden intraepithelial cysts. Patients are usually asymptomatic until adulthood when rupture of the corneal microcysts may cause erosions, producing clinical symptoms such as photophobia, contact lens intolerance and intermittent diminution of visual acuity. Rarely, subepithelial scarring causes irregular corneal astigmatism and permanent visual impairment. MECD1 inheritance is autosomal dominant. The disease is caused by variants affecting the gene represented in this entry.

Miscellaneous. There are two types of cytoskeletal and microfibrillar keratin: I (acidic; 40-55 kDa) and II (neutral to basic; 56-70 kDa).

Similarity. Belongs to the intermediate filament family.

RefSeq proteins (1): NP_000214* (*=MANE)

Domains & families (InterPro)

IDNameType
IPR002957Keratin_IFamily
IPR018039IF_conservedConserved_site
IPR039008IF_rod_domDomain

Pfam: PF00038

UniProt features (36 total): sequence variant 23, region of interest 9, compositionally biased region 2, chain 1, domain 1

Structure

Experimental structures (PDB)

0 structures.

Predicted structure (AlphaFold)

ModelpLDDTFraction very-high
AF-Q99456-F174.570.51

Function

Pathways and Gene Ontology

Reactome pathways

3 pathways

IDPathway
R-HSA-6805567Keratinization
R-HSA-6809371Formation of the cornified envelope
R-HSA-1266738Developmental Biology

MSigDB gene sets: 109 (showing top): GOBP_MORPHOGENESIS_OF_AN_EPITHELIUM, GOBP_EPITHELIUM_DEVELOPMENT, GOBP_INTERMEDIATE_FILAMENT_BASED_PROCESS, GOBP_INTERMEDIATE_FILAMENT_ORGANIZATION, GGGTGGRR_PAX4_03, MARTINEZ_RB1_TARGETS_UP, GOBP_SENSORY_PERCEPTION_OF_LIGHT_STIMULUS, SCHLOSSER_SERUM_RESPONSE_DN, GOBP_SENSORY_PERCEPTION, GOBP_SENSORY_ORGAN_DEVELOPMENT, MODULE_287, RASHI_RESPONSE_TO_IONIZING_RADIATION_5, MARTINEZ_RB1_AND_TP53_TARGETS_UP, GOBP_TISSUE_MORPHOGENESIS, CHESLER_BRAIN_QTL_CIS

GO Biological Process (5): morphogenesis of an epithelium (GO:0002009), visual perception (GO:0007601), epithelial cell differentiation (GO:0030855), intermediate filament organization (GO:0045109), cornea development in camera-type eye (GO:0061303)

GO Molecular Function (2): structural molecule activity (GO:0005198), structural constituent of skin epidermis (GO:0030280)

GO Cellular Component (5): cytosol (GO:0005829), cytoskeleton (GO:0005856), keratin filament (GO:0045095), extracellular exosome (GO:0070062), intermediate filament (GO:0005882)

Reactome top-level categories

Rollup of top-2 pathways:

CategoryPathways
Developmental Biology1
Keratinization1

GO top-level categories

Rollup of top GO terms by namespace:

CategoryTerms
epithelium development2
tissue morphogenesis1
sensory perception of light stimulus1
cell differentiation1
intermediate filament cytoskeleton organization1
supramolecular fiber organization1
camera-type eye development1
anatomical structure development1
molecular_function1
structural molecule activity1
cytoplasm1
cellular anatomical structure1
intracellular membraneless organelle1
intermediate filament1
extracellular vesicle1
intermediate filament cytoskeleton1
polymeric cytoskeletal fiber1

Protein interactions and networks

STRING

854 interactions, top by confidence (×1000):

Protein AProtein BPartner UniProtScore
KRT12PAX6P26367785
KRT12KERAO60938680
KRT12CRYZQ08257595
KRT12CHST6Q9GZX3595
KRT12FSHBP01225587
KRT12ABCG2Q9UNQ0575
KRT12ALDH3A1P30838549
KRT12UBIAD1Q9Y5Z9516
KRT12DCDC1P59894497
KRT12MPPED2Q15777497
KRT12DNAJC24Q6P3W2497
KRT12ELP4Q96EB1494
KRT12ABCB5Q2M3G0491
KRT12EMX2Q04743490
KRT12MMP9P14780489

IntAct

0 interactions, top by confidence:

BioGRID (22): KRT12 (Affinity Capture-MS), KRT12 (Affinity Capture-MS), KRT12 (Affinity Capture-MS), KRT12 (Affinity Capture-MS), KRT12 (Cross-Linking-MS (XL-MS)), KRT84 (Cross-Linking-MS (XL-MS)), KRT12 (Cross-Linking-MS (XL-MS)), KRT12 (Cross-Linking-MS (XL-MS)), KRT12 (Cross-Linking-MS (XL-MS)), KRT12 (Cross-Linking-MS (XL-MS)), KRT12 (Cross-Linking-MS (XL-MS)), KRT12 (Cross-Linking-MS (XL-MS)), KRT12 (Cross-Linking-MS (XL-MS)), KRT12 (Cross-Linking-MS (XL-MS)), KRT12 (Cross-Linking-MS (XL-MS))

ESM2 similar proteins: A0A8C0N8E3, A6QQQ9, O62654, P02540, P02541, P02542, P02543, P02544, P03995, P05784, P08552, P08670, P09654, P14136, P17661, P20152, P23239, P23729, P24789, P24790, P25030, P31000, P31001, P31393, P35617, P35900, P47819, P48616, P48670, P48673, P48674, P48675, P48676, P48677, P84198, Q04948, Q28115, Q28706, Q4R4X4, Q58EE9

Diamond homologs: A1KQY9, A1L317, A1L595, A5A6M0, A5A6M5, A5A6N2, A5A6P3, A6BLY7, A6QQQ9, A7YWM2, B0LKP1, B1AQ75, O57607, O57611, O76009, O76013, O77727, O93256, P02533, P02534, P02535, P02537, P05781, P05783, P05784, P06394, P08727, P08728, P08730, P08777, P08778, P08779, P08802, P13645, P13646, P19001, P19012, P25030, P25690, P35527

SIGNOR signaling

0 interactions.

Disease & clinical

Clinical variants and AI predictions

ClinVar

105 variants total. Per-class counts are floors (≥ shown; pagination cap):

ClassificationCount (floor)
Pathogenic8
Likely pathogenic1
Uncertain significance58
Likely benign10
Benign10

Top pathogenic / likely-pathogenic (9)

Variant IDHGVSClassification
254686NM_000223.4(KRT12):c.395T>C (p.Leu132Pro)Pathogenic
7921NM_000223.4(KRT12):c.404G>C (p.Arg135Thr)Pathogenic
7922NM_000223.4(KRT12):c.427G>C (p.Val143Leu)Pathogenic
7923NM_000223.4(KRT12):c.403A>G (p.Arg135Gly)Pathogenic
7924NM_000223.4(KRT12):c.404G>T (p.Arg135Ile)Pathogenic
7925NM_000223.4(KRT12):c.1285T>G (p.Tyr429Asp)Pathogenic
7926NM_000223.4(KRT12):c.419T>G (p.Leu140Arg)Pathogenic
7927NM_000223.4(KRT12):c.386T>C (p.Met129Thr)Pathogenic
66124NM_000223.4(KRT12):c.399T>G (p.Asn133Lys)Likely pathogenic

SpliceAI

630 predictions. Top by Δscore:

VariantEffectΔscore
17:40861759:C:CCacceptor_gain1.0000
17:40862636:C:CCacceptor_gain1.0000
17:40863118:CTCAC:Cdonor_loss1.0000
17:40863120:CACCC:Cdonor_loss1.0000
17:40863121:A:ACdonor_gain1.0000
17:40863121:AC:Adonor_gain1.0000
17:40863122:C:CCdonor_gain1.0000
17:40863122:C:CTdonor_loss1.0000
17:40863122:CC:Cdonor_gain1.0000
17:40863862:CTC:Cacceptor_gain1.0000
17:40863863:TC:Tacceptor_gain1.0000
17:40863864:CC:Cacceptor_gain1.0000
17:40863864:CCTG:Cacceptor_loss1.0000
17:40863865:CT:Cacceptor_loss1.0000
17:40863872:CAGCA:Cacceptor_gain1.0000
17:40863873:A:Tacceptor_gain1.0000
17:40863875:CATG:Cacceptor_gain1.0000
17:40863876:A:ACacceptor_gain1.0000
17:40863876:A:Cacceptor_gain1.0000
17:40863878:G:Cacceptor_gain1.0000
17:40864777:G:Cdonor_gain1.0000
17:40864791:C:Adonor_gain1.0000
17:40864800:A:ACdonor_gain1.0000
17:40864801:C:CCdonor_gain1.0000
17:40864802:TCACA:Tdonor_loss1.0000
17:40864803:CA:Cdonor_loss1.0000
17:40864804:A:ACdonor_gain1.0000
17:40864804:ACAT:Adonor_gain1.0000
17:40864804:ACATC:Adonor_gain1.0000
17:40864805:C:CTdonor_gain1.0000

AlphaMissense

3207 scored. Top likely-pathogenic:

VariantProtein changeam_pathogenicity
17:40863734:C:GR313P0.990
17:40863712:G:CF320L0.987
17:40863712:G:TF320L0.987
17:40863714:A:GF320L0.987
17:40863726:C:GA316P0.986
17:40866780:A:GL136S0.985
17:40863767:C:GR302P0.982
17:40863747:C:GA309P0.979
17:40863779:A:GL298P0.979
17:40864867:A:GL249P0.978
17:40863504:A:GL359P0.975
17:40864888:A:GL242P0.975
17:40866630:A:GL186P0.974
17:40866186:C:GA207P0.971
17:40864846:A:GL256P0.970
17:40866792:A:GL132P0.970
17:40866742:C:GA149P0.969
17:40863791:A:GL294P0.968
17:40863779:A:TL298H0.966
17:40866789:T:AN133I0.966
17:40866174:C:GA211P0.965
17:40863537:A:GL348P0.963
17:40863713:A:GF320S0.962
17:40863746:G:TA309D0.959
17:40864834:A:GL260P0.959
17:40866778:C:GA137P0.959
17:40863600:A:GL327P0.957
17:40866168:C:GD213H0.956
17:40866717:A:GI157T0.956
17:40863499:A:GS361P0.955

dbSNP variants (sampled 300 via entrez): RS1000223938 (17:40867265 T>A,C), RS1000676401 (17:40864614 C>A), RS1001683072 (17:40862703 T>G), RS1002117412 (17:40862298 C>A,G,T), RS1002679296 (17:40867795 T>C), RS1002755663 (17:40866272 C>A), RS1004340387 (17:40864212 A>G), RS1004672070 (17:40866066 C>T), RS1004873071 (17:40865738 G>T), RS1005708920 (17:40865600 C>T), RS1005719550 (17:40862152 T>C), RS1006047545 (17:40867371 T>C), RS1006313872 (17:40868682 T>C), RS1006350175 (17:40867593 T>A,C), RS1006834139 (17:40861782 G>A,C)

Disease associations

OMIM: gene MIM:601687 | disease phenotypes: MIM:122100

GenCC curated gene-disease

DiseaseClassificationInheritance
corneal dystrophy, Meesmann, 1DefinitiveAutosomal dominant
Meesmann corneal dystrophySupportiveAutosomal dominant

Mondo (2): corneal dystrophy, Meesmann, 1 (MONDO:0020791), Meesmann corneal dystrophy (MONDO:0007379)

Orphanet (1): Meesmann corneal dystrophy (Orphanet:98954)

HPO phenotypes

7 total (7 of 7 shown, HPO-id order):

HPOTerm
HP:0000006Autosomal dominant inheritance
HP:0000613Photophobia
HP:0001131Corneal dystrophy
HP:0003680Nonprogressive
HP:0007663Reduced visual acuity
HP:0007856Punctate opacification of the cornea
HP:0009926Epiphora

GWAS associations

0 associations (top):

MeSH disease descriptors (1)

DescriptorNameTree numbers
D053559Corneal Dystrophy, Juvenile Epithelial of MeesmannC11.204.236.218; C11.270.162.218; C16.320.290.162.204

Drugs & pharmacology

Drug and pharmacology data

Is drug target: no

PharmGKB: 1 entry (VIP=true, CPIC=false)

CTD chemical–gene interactions

11 total (human), top 11 by PubMed support.

ChemicalActions (top 5)PubMed papers
pyrogallol 1,3-dimethyl etheraffects cotreatment, affects localization, decreases expression, increases expression1
S-(1,2-dichlorovinyl)cysteinedecreases expression, decreases reaction1
CGP 52608affects binding, increases reaction1
Acetaminophendecreases expression1
Benzo(a)pyreneincreases methylation1
Lipopolysaccharidesdecreases expression, decreases reaction1
Sodium Chlorideaffects cotreatment, affects localization, decreases expression, increases expression1
Tobacco Smoke Pollutiondecreases expression1
Valproic Acidincreases methylation1
Aflatoxin B1increases methylation1
Copper Sulfateincreases expression1

Clinical trials (associated diseases)

0 trials via MONDO — disease-level, not drug-specific.