Keratins and protein synthesis: the plot thickens.
In addition to protecting epithelial cells from mechanical stress, keratins regulate cytoarchitecture, cell growth, proliferation, apoptosis, and organelle transport. In this issue, Vijayaraj et al. (2009. J. Cell Biol. doi:10.1083/jcb.200906094) expand our understanding of how keratin proteins participate in the regulation of protein synthesis through their analysis of mice lacking the entire type II keratin gene cluster.
Kellner
Juliane C
JC
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 20723, USA.
Coulombe
Pierre A
PA
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D000263:Adenylate Kinase / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051246:Glucose Transport Proteins, Facilitative / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D053531:Keratins, Type II / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D000076223:Regulatory-Associated Protein of mTOR
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D051246:Glucose Transport Proteins, Facilitative; D053531:Keratins, Type II; D000076223:Regulatory-Associated Protein of mTOR; C540162:Rptor protein, mouse; D000263:Adenylate Kinase