Th1L06 Intermediate Filaments

Th1L06 Intermediate Filaments

1. structure

   • polymer of individual intermediate filament proteins
     • Formation
       • (1) intermediate filament protein (monomer) forms a helical dimer
       • (2) two dimers combine to form a tetrameter
         • (the fundamental units of the IF)
       • (3) tetramers link in a staggered formation and end-to-end to form the filament
   • 10nm in diameter
   • visible by electro microscope

2. not dynamic

3. functions

   • anchor cells at some cell junctions
     • from a meshwork around the cell nucleus to hold it in place
   • support nuclear structure
     • Stabilise the shape of axons
       • NB: so do MTs
   • act as diagnostic tools to identify foreign cells as they are expressed differently based on their different locations (e.g. cancer)

4. common types

   • keratin, vimentin, glial fibriallary acidic protein, neurofilamin

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