Structural heterogeneity of cellular K5/K14 filaments as revealed by cryo-electron microscopy.

ABSTRACT: Keratin intermediate filaments are an essential and major component of the cytoskeleton in epithelial cells. They form a stable yet dynamic filamentous network extending from the nucleus to the cell periphery, which provides resistance to mechanical stresses. Mutations in keratin genes are related to a variety of epithelial tissue diseases. Despite their importance, the molecular structure of keratin filaments remains largely unknown. In this study, we analyzed the structure of keratin 5/keratin 14 filaments within ghost mouse keratinocytes by cryo-electron microscopy and cryo-electron tomography. By averaging a large number of keratin segments, we have gained insights into the helical architecture of the filaments. Two-dimensional classification revealed profound variations in the diamete

SUBMITTER: Weber MS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8360650 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature