Stump project-- mRNA basal layer keratinocytes; Volar versus non-volar acral skin gene expression

We were interested in defining the gene signature of volar skin. Punch biopsies of skin were split into epidermis and dermis after dispase treatment. Epidermis was trypsinized and sorted for alpha 6 integrin positive basal layer keratinocytes We collected RNA from basal layer keratinocytes of soles and backs of feet and submitted for Affymetrix Exon arrays. 2 replicates of each site from distinct human donors were included; total of 4 samples analyzed