This gene encodes a protein that anchors intermediate filaments to desmosomal plaques and forms an obligate component of functional desmosomes. Mutations in this gene are the cause of several cardiomyopathies and keratodermas, including skin fragility-woolly hair syndrome. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants.,DCWHKTA,DP,DSP,Epigenetics & Nuclear Signaling,RNA Binding,Signal Transduction,Cell Biology & Developmental Biology,Cytoskeleton,Extracellular Matrix,DSP