Cytoskeletal linker protein that connects to intermediate filaments and controls their reorganization in response to stress (PubMed:15671067, PubMed:27206504, PubMed:23398049). In response to mechanical stress like wound healing, is associated with the machinery for cellular motility by slowing down keratinocyte migration and proliferation and accelerating keratin bundling in proliferating keratinocytes thus contributing to tissue architecture (PubMed:27206504, PubMed:23398049). However in wound healing in corneal epithelium also positively regulates cell differentiation and proliferation and negatively regulates migration thereby controlling corneal epithelium morphogenesis and integrity. In response to cellular stress, plays a role in keratin filament reorganization, probably by protecting keratin filaments against disruption. During liver and pancreas injuries, plays a protective role by chaperoning disease-induced intermediate filament reorganization (By similarity). Interacts with KRT5, KRT14 and KRT5/KRT14 heterotetramer; interacts preferentially with assembled filaments rather than keratin monomers (PubMed:15671067). Interacts with KRT8 and KRT18 and KRT8/KRT18 heterotetramer; interacts preferentially with assembled filaments rather than keratin monomers (PubMed:15671067). Interacts with KRT1, VIM and DES; interaction is stronger with KRT1 than with VIM or DES; interaction is dependent of higher-order structure of intermediate filament (PubMed:16923132). May move dynamically from bundling intermediate filaments in the cytoplasm or at the cell periphery and reinforcing them (PubMed:23398049). Decorates the keratin intermediate filaments (IF) network and partially that of vimentin (PubMed:15671067). Expressed in epithelial cells of liver, small intestine, colon, salivary glands, stomach and appendix. Up-regulated upon calcium-mediated keratinocyte differentiation. Plectin repeats are important for the binding to keratin and VIM and controls intermediate filament networks organization. Belongs to the plakin or cytolinker family. It is uncertain whether Met-1 or Met-26 is the initiator. Truncated N-terminus. Truncated N-terminus.