You obtain a mouse mutant in which the skin is severely blistered. The mutation maps near the gene encoding the alpha6 integrin protein

a) Why would a mutation in integrin cause blistering of the skin? What other proteins would you expect to produce this phenotype when mutated and why?

b.) You make a cell line from the skin epithelial cells of this mutant mouse. What are two methods you could use with these cells to test whether the mutant phenotype could be the consequence of mutation of this integrin gene? Explain the predicted results for each approach.