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A 'hot-spot' mutation alters the mechanical properties of keratin filament networks

Abstract

Keratins 5 and 14 polymerize to form the intermediate filament network in the progenitor basal cells of many stratified epithelia including epidermis, where it provides crucial mechanical support. Inherited mutations in K5 or K14 result in epidermolysis bullosa simplex (EBS), a skin-fragility disorder1. The impact that such mutations exert on the intrinsic mechanical properties of K5/K14 filaments is unknown. Here we show, by using differential interference contrast microscopy, that a 'hot-spot' mutation in K14 greatly reduces the ability of reconstituted mutant filaments to bundle under crosslinking conditions. Rheological assays measure similar small-deformation mechanical responses for crosslinked solutions of wild-type and mutant keratins. The mutation, however, markedly reduces the resilience of crosslinked networks against large deformations. Single-particle tracking, which probes the local organization of filament networks, shows that the mutant polymer exhibits highly heterogeneous structures compared to those of wild-type filaments. Our results indicate that the fragility of epithelial cells expressing mutant keratin may result from an impaired ability of keratin polymers to be crosslinked into a functional network.

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Figure 1: Keratin polymers.
Figure 2: Rheological assessment of bulk properties of keratin polymers.
Figure 3: Assessment of local visco-elastic properties by particle tracking.

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Acknowledgements

This work was partly supported by an NIH grant to P.A.C. and by NSF grants to D.W.

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Correspondence to Pierre A. Coulombe.

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Ma, L., Yamada, S., Wirtz, D. et al. A 'hot-spot' mutation alters the mechanical properties of keratin filament networks. Nat Cell Biol 3, 503–506 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/35074576

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