Plectin pulls it together, coupling the cortical actin and intermediate filament cytoskeletons

The integration of cytoskeletal/adhesive networks is critical to epithelial mechanobiology. In this issue, Prechova et al. (2022. J. Cell Biol.https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.202105146) demonstrate that the cytolinker protein plectin is essential for the construction of a cortical cytoskeletal architecture required for epithelial tensional homeostasis.

Automated summary

The integration of cytoskeletal/adhesive networks is crucial for epithelial mechanobiology. This study demonstrates that plectin, a cytolinker protein, is essential for the construction of a cortical cytoskeletal architecture required for epithelial tensional homeostasis.