Plays a role in the establishment of the epidermal barrier on plantar skin (PubMed:26603179). Involved in the maintenance of cell layer development and keratin filament bundles in suprabasal cells of the epithelium (PubMed:24751727). (Microbial infection) Acts as a mediator of S.aureus adherence to desquamated nasal epithelial cells via clfB, and hence may play a role in nasal colonization. (Microbial infection) Binds S.pneumoniae PsrP, mediating adherence of the bacteria to lung cell lines. (Microbial infection) Interacts (via C-terminal tail domain) with the S.aureus clumping factor, clfB; this interaction probably mediates S.aureus attachment to the highly keratinized squamous epithelial cells from the nasal cavity. Heterotetramer of two type I and two type II keratins. Heterodimer with KRT1 (PubMed:24940650). Two heterodimers of KRT1 and KRT10 form a heterotetramer (By similarity). The KRT10 subunit in the heterotetramer is probably disulfide-linked (By similarity). Interacts with PLEC isoform 1C, when in a heterodimer with KRT1 (PubMed:24940650). (Microbial infection) Interacts (via the C-terminal tail domain) with S.pneumoniae serine-rich repeat protein PsrP; this interaction probably mediates S.pneumoniae adherence to lung tissue and subsequent pathogenesis. Expressed in the suprabasal layers of the epidermis throughout the entire sole (at protein level) (PubMed:24751727, PubMed:26603179). Expressed in the infundibular regions of the ear, the interscale regions of the tail, and the interfollicular epidermis of the back (PubMed:24751727). Expressed in lung tissue from young mice (at protein level) (PubMed:19627498). Expressed in the skin at birth. Mice are viable and display no differences in size and body weight (PubMed:26603179). Show acanthosis, hyperkeratosis and scaling of the stratum corneum in plantar skin (PubMed:26603179). Increase in the number of epidermal cell layers and a decrease in the abundance of cytoplasmic keratin filament bundles in suprabasal cells (PubMed:24751727). Large keratohyalin granules of various shapes are evident in the upper suprabasal cells (PubMed:24751727). KRT2 aggregates form in the cytoplasm of keratinocytes (PubMed:24751727). Show no epidermal aberrations of the footpads (PubMed:26603179). Double knockout mice of KRT10 and KRT2 are viable and display no differences in size and body weight (PubMed:26603179). Show a more severe epidermis phenotype as in single KRT10 knockout mice (PubMed:24751727, PubMed:26603179). There are two types of cytoskeletal and microfibrillar keratin: I (acidic; 40-55 kDa) and II (neutral to basic; 56-70 kDa). Belongs to the intermediate filament family.