The Structure of the Plakin Domain of Plectin Reveals an Extended Rod-like Shape.

Plakins are large multi-domain proteins that interconnect cytoskeletal structures. Plectin is a prototypical plakin that tethers intermediate filaments to membrane-associated complexes. Most plakins contain a plakin domain formed by up to nine spectrin repeats (SR1-SR9) and an SH3 domain.

Purification and Structural Analysis of Plectin and BPAG1e.

Plectin and BPAG1e belong to the plakin family of high-molecular-weight proteins that interconnect the cytoskeletal systems and anchor them to junctional complexes. Plectin and BPAG1e are prototypical plakins with a similar tripartite modular structure. The N- and C-terminal regions are built of multiple discrete structural domains, while the central rod domain mediates dimerization by coiled-coil interactions.