Keratin 1 is a member of the keratin family. It is specifically expressed in the spinous and granular layers of the epidermis with family member keratin 10. Mutations in this gene have been associated with the variants of bullous congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma in which the palms and soles of the feet are affected.
This gene, of the keratin family, is formed by type II cytokeratins set in pairs in a heterotypic chain which are shown through the differentiation of epithelial tissues. This type II cytokeratin is specifically expressed in the spinous and granular layers of the epidermis. Connections between mutations in the Keratin family and bullous congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma have been made, on account of type II cytokeratins being found clustered in a region of chromosomes 12q12-q13.