Shifts in keratin isoform expression activate motility signals during wound healing.

ABSTRACT: Keratin intermediate filaments confer structural stability to epithelial tissues, but the reason this simple mechanical function requires a protein family with 54 isoforms is not understood. During skin wound healing, a shift in keratin isoform expression alters the composition of keratin filaments. If and how this change modulates cellular functions that support epidermal remodeling remains unclear. We report an unexpected effect of keratin isoform variation on kinase signal transduction. Increased expression of wound-associated keratin 6A, but not of steady-state keratin 5, potentiated keratinocyte migration and wound closure without compromising mechanical stability by activating myosin motors to increase contractile force generation. These results substantially expand the functional re

SUBMITTER: Nanes BA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11496015 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature