Roles for Ndel1 in keratin organization and desmosome function.

ABSTRACT: Keratin intermediate filaments form dynamic polymer networks that organize in specific ways dependent on the cell type, the stage of the cell cycle, and the state of the cell. In differentiated cells of the epidermis, they are organized by desmosomes, cell-cell adhesion complexes that provide essential mechanical integrity to this tissue. Despite this, we know little about how keratin organization is controlled and whether desmosomes locally regulate keratin dynamics in addition to binding preassembled filaments. Ndel1 is a desmosome-associated protein in the differentiated epidermis, though its function at these structures has not been examined. Here, we show that Ndel1 binds directly to keratin subunits through a motif conserved in all intermediate filament proteins. Further, Ndel1 was n

SUBMITTER: Kim YB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8684757 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature