ABSTRACT
Keratin laments occupy 80-90% of corneocytes and form the macrobrils by cross-linking with the cornied envelope (CE) of the corneocytes. The SC lipid layer is covalently attached to the external surface of the CE proteins of fully differentiated corneocytes. This cornied lipid envelop (CLE) consists of ω-hydroxyceramide covalently attached to CE proteins such as involucrin (Wertz et al. 1989). The ω-hydroxyl group on the ceramides is required for CLE formation (Behne et al. 2000). Thus the CE contributes the effective physical barrier and water impermeable barrier.
