Studying Nestin and its Interrelationship with Cdk5

: Lindqvist J, Wistbacka N, Eriksson JE

Publisher: ELSEVIER ACADEMIC PRESS INC, 525 B STREET, SUITE 1900, SAN DIEGO, CA 92101-4495 USA

: 2016

: Methods in Enzymology,Methods in Enzymology

: INTERMEDIATE FILAMENT PROTEINS

: METHOD ENZYMOL

: 568

: 509

: 535

: 27

: 978-0-12-803470-5

: 0076-6879

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.mie.2015.09.019

Current research utilizes the specific expression pattern of intermediate filaments (IF) for identifying cellular state and origin, as well as for the purpose of disease diagnosis. Nestin is commonly utilized as a specific marker and driver for CNS progenitor cell types, but in addition, nestin can be found in several mesenchymal progenitor cells, and it is constitutively expressed in a few restricted locations, such as muscle neuromuscular junctions and kidney podocytes. Alike most other members of the IF protein family, nestin filaments are dynamic, constantly being remodeled through posttranslational modifications, which alter the solubility, protein levels, and signaling capacity of the nestin filaments. Through its interactions with kinases and other signaling executors, resulting in a complex and bidirectional regulation of cell signaling events, nestin has the potential to determine whether cells divide, differentiate, migrate, or stay in place. In this review, the broad and similar roles of IFs as dynamic signaling scaffolds, is exemplified by observations of nestin functions and its interaction with the cyclin-dependent kinase 5, the atypical kinase in the family of cyclin-dependent kinases.