Intermediate filament

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Intermediate filament

Intermediate filament (In-ter-me-di-ate fil-a-ment) is a type of cytoskeletal component found in the cells of many animals.

Etymology

The term "intermediate filament" is derived from the fact that the diameter of these filaments (10 nanometers) is between that of smaller microfilaments (7 nanometers) and larger microtubules (25 nanometers).

Definition

Intermediate filaments are a diverse group of cytoskeletal elements that provide mechanical strength to cells and tissues. They are named for their intermediate size, between the smaller actin filaments and the larger microtubules. Unlike actin filaments and microtubules, intermediate filaments are not directly involved in cell movement or transport of intracellular materials.

Types

There are six types of intermediate filaments:

  1. Keratins: Found in epithelial cells and form hair, nails, and the outer layer of skin.
  2. Vimentin and Vimentin-like: Found in connective tissue, muscle cells, and glial cells.
  3. Desmin: Found in muscle cells.
  4. Neurofilaments: Found in neurons.
  5. Lamins: Found in all animal cells, forming a meshwork that lines the inner surface of the nuclear envelope.
  6. Nestin: Found in developing neurons and other cell types in the developing nervous system.

Function

Intermediate filaments have several functions:

  • Providing mechanical strength to cells and tissues.
  • Maintaining cell shape by resisting tension.
  • Anchoring the position of organelles within the cell.
  • Participating in some cell-cell and cell-matrix junctions.

Related Terms

External links

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