Desmin Mutation in the C-Terminal Domain Impairs Traction Force Generation in Myoblasts.

ABSTRACT: The cytoskeleton plays a key role in the ability of cells to both resist mechanical stress and generate force, but the precise involvement of intermediate filaments in these processes remains unclear. We focus here on desmin, a type III intermediate filament, which is specifically expressed in muscle cells and serves as a skeletal muscle differentiation marker. By using several complementary experimental techniques, we have investigated the impact of overexpressing desmin and expressing a mutant desmin on the passive and active mechanical properties of C2C12 myoblasts. We first show that the overexpression of wild-type-desmin increases the overall rigidity of the cells, whereas the expression of a mutated E413K desmin does not. This mutation in the desmin gene is one of those leading to de

SUBMITTER: Charrier EE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4724625 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature