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Synthesis of Keratin-based Nanofiber for Biomedical Engineering
14:43

Synthesis of Keratin-based Nanofiber for Biomedical Engineering

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Structure and mechanical properties of human trichocyte keratin intermediate filament protein

Chia-Ching Chou1, Markus J Buehler

  • 1Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Room 1-235A,B, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.

Biomacromolecules
|September 12, 2012
PubMed

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The intermediate filaments are an essential component of the cytoskeleton. Presently six types of intermediate filament have been identified. Type I and II are acidic and basic keratin proteins. Type III is of mesodermal origin and comprises four proteins: vimentin, desmin, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and peripherin. Vimentin is commonly found in mesenchymal cells, desmin in muscle cells, GFAP in astrocytes, while peripherin is found in peripheral nervous system neurons (PNS). Type...
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Disassembly of Intermediate Filaments

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