Keratin 19 Keratin 19 Keratin, type I cytoskeletal 19 also known as cytokeratin-19 (CK-19) or keratin-19 (K19) is a 40 kDa protein that in humans is encoded by the "KRT19" gene. Keratin 19 is a type I keratin. Keratin 19 is a member of the keratin family. The keratins are intermediate filament proteins responsible for the structural integrity of epithelial cells and are subdivided into cytokeratins and hair keratins. Keratin 19 is a type I keratin. The type I cytokeratins consist of acidic proteins which are arranged in pairs of heterotypic keratin chains. Unlike its related family members, this smallest known acidic
Keratin 5 heterodimers are formed between specific pairs of type I (acidic) and type II (basic) keratin. K5, a type II keratin, pairs with the type I keratin K14. The coiled-coil dimers undergo stepwise assembly and combine in an antiparallel manner, forming end-to-end interactions with other coiled-coils to form large 10 nm intermediate filaments. Keratin 5 (and K14) are expressed primarily in basal keratinocytes in the epidermis, specifically in the stratified epithelium lining the skin and digestive tract. Keratin intermediate filaments make up the cytoskeletal scaffold within epithelial cells, which contributes to the cell architecture and provides the cells with the ability