Assembly of Simple Epithelial Keratin Filaments: Deciphering the Ion Dependence in Filament Organization

Biomacromolecules
Clément Y J HémonnotSarah Köster

Abstract

The intermediate filament proteins keratin K8 and K18 constitute an essential part of the cytoskeleton in simple epithelial cell layers, structurally enforcing their mechanical resistance. K8/K18 heterodimers form extended filaments and higher-order structures including bundles and networks that bind to cell junctions. We study the assembly of these proteins in the presence of monovalent or divalent ions by small-angle X-ray scattering. We find that both ion species cause an increase of the filament diameter when their concentration is increased; albeit, much higher values are needed for the monovalent compared to the divalent ions for the same effect. Bundling occurs also for monovalent ions and at comparatively low concentrations of divalent ions, very different from vimentin intermediate filaments, a fibroblast-specific cytoskeleton component. We explain these differences by variations in charge and hydrophobicity patterns of the proteins. These differences may reflect the respective physiological situation in stationary cell layers versus single migrating fibroblasts.

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Citations

Feb 26, 2016·ACS Nano·Clément Y J HémonnotSarah Köster
Sep 23, 2016·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Carlos G LopezSarah Köster
Jun 24, 2016·Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology·Tobias PaustOthmar Marti
Nov 26, 2019·Physical Review Letters·Charlotta LorenzSarah Köster
Jul 1, 2021·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Anna V SchepersSarah Köster

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