Dynamics of intermediate filaments. Recent progress and unanswered questions.
Intermediate filaments (IFs) have always been considered as the most static and 'skeletal' cellular elements. This view is now changing: new information reveals that IFs exchange subunits at steady-state, that IF networks can be assembled de novo, and that IF proteins are subject to elaborate chemical modification and de-modification during mitosis. I describe below some of the key observations which have made us realize that IFs are dynamic structures. I also discuss some of the remaining questions pertinent to the pathways of IF assembly under in vivo conditions.
Georgatos
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SD
Cell Biology Programme, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany.
D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D007382:Intermediate Filaments / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational
D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins; D046911:Macromolecular Substances