Hard and Soft Principles Defining the Structure, Function, and Regulation of Keratin Intermediate Filaments

This review explored the structure, function, and regulation of keratin intermediate filaments (IFs), highlighting both established ('hard') and emerging ('soft') principles. It discussed the discovery of novel keratin genes, the mechanics of keratin filaments, and the functional redundancy revealed by gene knockouts. The study also examined the role of keratin mutations in various diseases and the regulation of keratin through interactions with other proteins. The field was noted to be rapidly advancing, driven by transgenic models and new insights into keratin's protective roles in cellular stress responses.