Keratins belong to the superfamily of intermediate filament proteins. They are the most abundant proteins in epithelial cells and are known to be responsible for the formation of cytoskeletal filaments by copolymerization. More than 20 type I keratins and about 15 type II keratins are described. At least one of the type I and one of the type II keratins are expressed by every epithelial cell. For post-mitotic cornifying cells in the epidermis, for example, a characteristic coexpression of K1 and K10 keratin is observed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2005 Springer-Verlag
About this entry
Cite this entry
(2005). Keratins. In: Vohr, HW. (eds) Encyclopedic Reference of Immunotoxicology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-27806-0_857
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-27806-0_857
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-44172-4
Online ISBN: 978-3-540-27806-1
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesReference Module Biomedical and Life Sciences