Shear stress induced reorganization of the keratin intermediate filament network requires phosphorylation by protein kinase C zeta.

ABSTRACT: Keratin intermediate filaments (KIFs) form a fibrous polymer network that helps epithelial cells withstand external mechanical forces. Recently, we established a correlation between the structure of the KIF network and its local mechanical properties in alveolar epithelial cells. Shear stress applied across the cell surface resulted in the structural remodeling of KIF and a substantial increase in the elastic modulus of the network. This study examines the mechanosignaling that regulates the structural remodeling of the KIF network. We report that the shear stress-mediated remodeling of the KIF network is facilitated by a twofold increase in the dynamic exchange rate of KIF subunits, which is regulated in a PKC zeta and 14-3-3-dependent manner. PKC zeta phosphorylates K18pSer33, and this i

SUBMITTER: Sivaramakrishnan S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2688554 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature