CYTOKERATIN Meaning and
Definition
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Cytokeratin is a term used in biology and medicine to refer to a group of proteins present in the cytoplasm of epithelial cells. These proteins form the intermediate filaments of the cytoskeleton, providing structural support to the cells. Cytokeratins are important components of the epithelial tissue and are involved in various cellular processes, including cell division, cell migration, and tissue organization.
Cytokeratin proteins are characterized by their high content of amino acids such as cysteine and glycine, as well as their ability to form coiled-coil structures. These proteins are encoded by a family of genes known as keratins, which are found in multiple copies in the human genome.
The expression of cytokeratins can vary depending on the type of epithelial cell and its developmental stage. Cytokeratin profiling is often used in medical diagnostics as a tool for distinguishing different types of cancers or identifying the primary site of a metastatic tumor. For example, cytokeratin 7 and 20 are commonly used markers to differentiate between cancers originating from the lung and gastrointestinal tract, respectively.
In summary, cytokeratin refers to a group of proteins that are abundant in the cytoplasm of epithelial cells and play crucial roles in providing structural integrity and regulating cellular functions.
Common Misspellings for CYTOKERATIN
- xytokeratin
- vytokeratin
- fytokeratin
- dytokeratin
- cttokeratin
- cgtokeratin
- chtokeratin
- cutokeratin
- c7tokeratin
- c6tokeratin
- cyrokeratin
- cyfokeratin
- cygokeratin
- cyyokeratin
- cy6okeratin
- cy5okeratin
- cytikeratin
- cytkkeratin
- cytlkeratin
- cytpkeratin
Etymology of CYTOKERATIN
The word "cytokeratin" is derived from two components: "cyto-" and "keratin".
1. "Cytos-" comes from the Greek word "kutos", meaning "hollow vessel" or "cell". In scientific terminology, "cyto-" is a prefix that refers to cells.
2. "Keratin" comes from the Greek word "keras", meaning "horn". Keratin is a structural protein found in the epidermis (outer layer of skin) and other epithelial tissues such as hair and nails. It provides strength, elasticity, and protection to these tissues.
Therefore, "cytokeratin" combines "cyto-" referring to cells and "keratin" referring to the type of protein. The term is used to describe a group of intermediate filaments, mainly found in epithelial cells, that are made up of various keratin proteins.
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