Self-Consistent Field Theory for the Interactions Between Keratin Intermediate Filaments

The study developed a model using self-consistent field theory to understand interactions between keratin intermediate filaments, which are crucial for skin elasticity. The model represented filaments as charged surfaces with disordered terminal domains as charged heteropolymers. It found that these domains could mediate weak attraction between filaments through bridging and electrostatics, particularly near a charge compensation point. This attraction diminished with changes in charge balance or the addition of small ions and amino acids. The findings aligned with experimental data, suggesting that the elastic properties of keratin-containing tissues were influenced by the terminal domains' physico-chemical properties and the surrounding medium's composition.