16 Questions
What is the main function of keratins in epithelial cells?
Impart mechanical strength
Which accessory protein bundles keratin to give skin toughness?
Keratonetein
What type of diseases can mutations in keratins predispose individuals to?
Dry skin diseases
In which disease do individuals experience skin blisters in response to slight mechanical stress?
Epidermolysis bullosa
Which disorder is characterized by the disorganization of the keratin filament cytoskeleton due to mechanical stress?
Epidermolysis bullosa
What is the role of neurofilaments (NFs) in determining axonal diameter?
Incorporating subunits along the length of the axon
Which disorder can be caused by mutations in the plectin protein?
Epidermolysis bullosa
What is the main function of Plakins in the cytoskeleton?
Linking intermediate filaments (IFs) to actin and microtubules
What determines the speed of transmission in neurons?
The level of neurofilament expression
Which protein is mentioned in association with both epidermolysis bullosa and neurodegeneration?
Keratin
What is the diameter range of Arp1 filaments, which are similar in size to actin filaments?
8-11 nm
Why are intermediate filaments (IFs) prominent in the cytoplasm of cells subject to mechanical stress?
IFs provide structural support and tensile strength to withstand mechanical stress.
How are intermediate filaments (IFs) related to nuclear lamins?
Nuclear lamins are a type of intermediate filament found in the nucleus.
What is the main feature of the conserved α-helical domain in all intermediate filaments (IFs) that allows them to form extended coiled-coil structures?
The α-helical domain allows IFs to form parallel dimers that associate into anti-parallel staggered tetramers.
What is the key feature that makes keratins the most diverse of the intermediate filament (IF) proteins?
Keratins are the only IFs that have a heterodimeric filament subunit, with one acidic and one neutral/basic protein.
What is the main function of the anti-parallel staggered tetramers formed by intermediate filaments (IFs)?
The tetramers provide the tensile strength and ability to be stretched to 3 times their usual length.
Learn about the significance of keratin in human tissues, including its role in providing mechanical strength to epithelial cells and anchoring at cell-cell or cell-matrix contact sites. Explore how keratin mutations can predispose individuals to dry skin diseases.
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