Peripherin assembles into homopolymers in SW13 cells.
The properties of full-length and mutant peripherins were studied in intermediate filament-less SW13 cells to define regions of peripherin that are essential for initiation of filament assembly. A full-length rat peripherin gene transfected into SW13 cells resulted in filament formation, consistent with the close structural relationship of peripherin to other type III intermediate filament proteins that readily form homopolymers. Translation of full-length rat peripherin is initiated predominantly at the second of two inframe AUGs. Deletions within the amino terminus of wild-type peripherin abolished its ability to form filaments in SW13 cells. In contrast, deletion of the entire carboxyl-terminal tail of peripherin did not affect its ability to form filamentous arrays in transfected SW13 cells. These results indicate that, of the intermediate filament proteins that are expressed in mature neurons, only peripherin and alpha-internexin are capable of making homopolymer intermediate filaments. In addition, mutations of the carboxyl tail of peripherin generally do not interfere with filament network formation.
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Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, OH 45267-0521, USA.
Stambrook
P J
PJ
Parysek
L M
LM
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017353:Gene Deletion; D006801:Humans; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007382:Intermediate Filaments / Q000378:metabolism*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D064531:Peripherins; D011108:Polymers; D051381:Rats; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D005136:Eye Proteins; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C578994:PRPH protein, human; D064531:Peripherins; D011108:Polymers