title: Intermediate filaments as mechanical integrators of cellular space.
abstract: Five chemically distinct classes of intermediate filaments can be identified within higher eukaryotic cells. Each class is characteristic of a particular cell type. These filaments may function to integrate mechanically the various structures of the cytoplasmic space in a way that is tailored to the differentiated state of the cell.
mesh_terms: D000185:Actinin / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000502:physiology*; D005057:Eukaryotic Cells / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007633:Keratins / Q000378:metabolism; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009132:Muscles / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D009474:Neurons / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D009124:Muscle Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D011506:Proteins; D000185:Actinin; D007633:Keratins