title: The motility and dynamic properties of intermediate filaments and their constituent proteins.
abstract: Intermediate filament (IF) proteins exist in multiple structural forms within cells including mature IF, short filaments or 'squiggles', and non-filamentous precursors called particles. These forms are interconvertible and their relative abundance is IF type, cell type- and cell cycle stage-dependent. These structures are often associated with molecular motors, such as kinesin and dynein, and are therefore capable of translocating through the cytoplasm along microtubules. The assembly of mature IF from their precursor particles is also coupled to translation. These dynamic properties of IF provide mechanisms for regulating their reorganization and assembly in response to the functional requirements of cells. The recent findings that IF and their precursors are frequently associated with signaling molecules have revealed new functions for IF beyond their more traditional roles as mechanical integrators of cells and tissues.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 303 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
authors.forename: Ying-Hao
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Frederick W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Flitney
authors.forename: Lynne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mendez
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Grin
authors.forename: Robert D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Goldman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D007382:Intermediate Filaments / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology*; D020409:Molecular Motor Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000502:physiology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D014746:Vimentin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins; D020409:Molecular Motor Proteins; D021122:Protein Subunits; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014746:Vimentin