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Intermediate Filaments and other Alpha-Helical Proteins

  • Chapter
Molecules of the Cytoskeleton

Part of the book series: Macmillan Molecular Biology Series

Abstract

The most truly fibrous components of cytoplasm, namely α-helical polypeptides that pair into a coiled-coil arrangement, are found in many situations. Being long rod-shaped molecules, they are ideal for contributing tensile strength to the cytoskeleton. Rod-shaped molecules can each make many more side-to-side bonds when assembled into filaments than do globular subunits like actin and tubulin.

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Further reading

Some reviews

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Medical Research Council, Hills Road, CB2 2QH, Cambridge, UK

    Linda A. Amos B.A.(Oxon.), Ph.D.(Cantab.) & W. Bradshaw Amos B.A.(Oxon.), Ph.D.(Cantab.)

Authors
  1. Linda A. Amos B.A.(Oxon.), Ph.D.(Cantab.)
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  2. W. Bradshaw Amos B.A.(Oxon.), Ph.D.(Cantab.)
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© 1991 L. A. Amos and W. B. Amos

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Amos, L.A., Amos, W.B. (1991). Intermediate Filaments and other Alpha-Helical Proteins. In: Molecules of the Cytoskeleton. Macmillan Molecular Biology Series. Palgrave, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-21739-7_2

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