Biology / Unit 2 Bio 0301 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Intermediate Filaments
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The idea
Intermediate filaments are cytoskeletal fibers, wound from several strands of fibrous protein, that bear tension and anchor the nucleus and other organelles in place.
In practice
The wool fiber in a sweater and the keratin in a fingernail are built from the same intermediate filament protein studied here.
Where people slip
Unlike microfilaments, intermediate filaments play no role in cell movement; their function is purely structural support.
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