Essential for the proper assembly of types I and II keratin protein complexes and the formation of keratin intermediate filaments in the inner root sheath (irs).
Subcellular locations: Cytoplasm
Strongly expressed in skin and scalp, and weak expression observed in thymus. In the hair follicle, expressed in Henle layer, Huxley layer and in the irs cuticle. Expression extends from the bulb region up to the point of differentiation into the three layers. Also present in the medulla of beard hair (at protein level).