Article
Multiple roles for keratin intermediate filaments in the regulation of epithelial barrier function and apico-basal polarity
2 May 2016
Abstract excerpt
As multicellular organisms evolved a family of cytoskeletal proteins, the keratins (types I and II) expressed in epithelial cells diversified in more than 20 genes in vertebrates. There is no question that keratin filaments confer mechanical stiffness to cells. However, such a number of genes can hardly be explained by evolutionary advantages in mechanical features. The use of transgenic mouse models has revealed...
Read the complete abstract on PubMedTopics
Share this publication in a Topic to start or enrich a Post.