Chou Y H, Skalli O, Goldman R D
Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Northwestern University Medical School, 303 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611-3008, USA.
Curr Opin Cell Biol. 1997 Feb;9(1):49-53. doi: 10.1016/s0955-0674(97)80151-2.
Recent research highlights the roles of cytoskeletal intermediate filaments (IFs) and their interactions with both the cell surface and other cytoskeletal systems in maintaining cellular integrity and the mechanical properties of cytoplasm. This has been demonstrated by analyses of mutations in IF-associated proteins (IFAPs) that are involved in connecting IFs to cell surface junctions. New data also point to the role of IFAPs as molecular 'nuts and bolts' in the construction of an integrated cytoplasmic architecture. This is highlighted by the initial descriptions of a family of multifunctional molecules that are capable of bridging IFs to other cytoskeletal elements. These findings, together with the development of specific peptide inhibitors capable of disassembling IF networks in vivo, are paving the way to the identification of new cellular functions for IFs and IFAPs.
近期研究突出了细胞骨架中间丝（IFs）的作用，以及它们在维持细胞完整性和细胞质机械特性方面与细胞表面及其他细胞骨架系统的相互作用。对参与将IFs连接到细胞表面连接点的IF相关蛋白（IFAPs）突变的分析证实了这一点。新数据还指出IFAPs在构建整合的细胞质结构中作为分子“螺母和螺栓”的作用。能够将IFs与其他细胞骨架元件连接起来的多功能分子家族的初步描述突出了这一点。这些发现，连同能够在体内拆解IF网络的特异性肽抑制剂的开发，正在为确定IFs和IFAPs的新细胞功能铺平道路。
