Biomechanical properties of intermediate filaments: From tissues to single filaments and back

Laurent Kreplak, Douglas Fudge

Producción científica: Contribución a una revistaArtículo de revisiónrevisión exhaustiva

96 Citas (Scopus)

Resumen

The animal cell cytoskeleton consists of three interconnected filament systems: actin-containing microfilaments (MFs), microtubules (MTs), and the lesser known intermediate filaments (IFs). All IF proteins share a common tripartite domain structure and the ability to assemble into 8-12 nm wide filaments. Electron microscopy data suggest that IFs are built according to a completely different plan from that of MFs and MTs. IFs are known to impart mechanical stability to cells and tissues but, until recently, the biomechanical properties of single IFs were unknown. However, with the discovery of naturally occurring micrometer-wide IF bundles and the development of new methodologies to mechanically probe single filaments, it is now possible to propose a more unified view of IF biomechanics. Unlike MFs and MTs, single IFs can now be described as flexible, extensible and tough, which has important implications for our understanding of cell and tissue mechanics. Furthermore, the molecular mechanisms at play when IFs are deformed point toward a pivotal role for them in mechanotransduction.

Idioma originalEnglish
Páginas (desde-hasta)26-35
Número de páginas10
PublicaciónBioEssays
Volumen29
N.º1
DOI
EstadoPublished - ene. 2007
Publicado de forma externa

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

  • General Biochemistry,Genetics and Molecular Biology

Huella

Profundice en los temas de investigación de 'Biomechanical properties of intermediate filaments: From tissues to single filaments and back'. En conjunto forman una huella única.

Citar esto