CHASING COILED COILS - INTERMEDIATE FILAMENTS IN PLANTS

The cytoskeleton's structurally most resilient components, the interme diate filaments (IFs), have attracted the interest of cell biologists for more than two decades. IFs form extensive networks in many animal cells, and are thought to provide considerable tensile strength to the cells and tissues. In fact, the term ''cytoskeleton'' has originally been coined for the insoluble fibrous remains of detergent extracted a nimal cells. Nevertheless, cells can survive quite well without an IF network, and even without the subunit proteins that build the 1 0 nm w ide polymeric filaments. Hence, the vital function of these cytoskelet al components is still hotly debated. Against this background, it may be premature to start suggesting functions for IFs in plants. Yet this is exactly what quite a number of researchers have begun to do. Becau se much recent evidence supports the idea of a plant IF cytoskeleton, it seems timely to examine this evidence and discuss its impact on our current understanding of IF function.