Question

For each of the following sentences, fill in the blanks with the best word or phrase selected from the list below. Not all words or phrases will be used; use each word or phrase only once. Intermediate filaments are found mainly in cells that are subject to mechanical stress. Mutations in genes that disrupt intermediate filaments cause some rare human diseases. For example, the skin of people with epidermolysis bullosa simplex is very susceptible to mechanical injury; people with this disorder have mutations in their __________________ genes, the intermediate filament found in epithelial cells. These filaments are usually connected from cell to cell through junctions called __________________s. The main filaments found in muscle cells belong to the __________________ family; people with disruptions in these intermediate filaments can have muscular dystrophy. In the nervous system, __________________s help strengthen the extremely long extensions often present in nerve cell axons; disruptions in these intermediate filaments can lead to neurodegeneration. People who carry mutations in the gene for __________________, an important protein for cross-linking intermediate filaments, have a disease that combines symptoms of epidermolysis bullosa simplex, muscular dystrophy, and neurodegeneration. desmosome lamin synapse keratin neurofilament vimentin kinase plectin

Answer 1

Intermediate filaments provide structural support within cells. The skin's epidermolysis bullosa simplex involves keratin gene mutations, desmosomes connect cells, desmin is crucial in muscle cells, neurofilaments strengthen nerve cell axons, and mutations in plectin can cause complex disorders.

Step-by-step explanation:

For each of the following sentences, fill in the blanks with the best word or phrase selected from the list below. Intermediate filaments are found mainly in cells that are subject to mechanical stress.

Mutations in genes that disrupt intermediate filaments cause some rare human diseases. For example, the skin of people with epidermolysis bullosa simplex is very susceptible to mechanical injury; people with this disorder have mutations in their keratin genes, the intermediate filament found in epithelial cells.

These filaments are usually connected from cell to cell through junctions called desmosomes. The main filaments found in muscle cells belong to the desmin family; people with disruptions in these intermediate filaments can have muscular dystrophy.

In the nervous system, neurofilaments help strengthen the extremely long extensions often present in nerve cell axons; disruptions in these intermediate filaments can lead to neurodegeneration. People who carry mutations in the gene for plectin, an important protein for cross-linking intermediate filaments, have a disease that combines symptoms of epidermolysis bullosa simplex, muscular dystrophy, and neurodegeneration.