International Journal of Molecular Sciences Review Deimination, Intermediate Filaments and Associated Proteins Julie Briot, Michel Simon and Marie-Claire Méchin * UDEAR, Institut National de la Santé Et de la Recherche Médicale, Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, Université Fédérale de Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées, U1056, 31059 Toulouse, France;
[email protected] (J.B.);
[email protected] (M.S.) * Correspondence:
[email protected]; Tel.: +33-5-6115-8425 Received: 27 October 2020; Accepted: 16 November 2020; Published: 19 November 2020 Abstract: Deimination (or citrullination) is a post-translational modification catalyzed by a calcium-dependent enzyme family of five peptidylarginine deiminases (PADs). Deimination is involved in physiological processes (cell differentiation, embryogenesis, innate and adaptive immunity, etc.) and in autoimmune diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and lupus), cancers and neurodegenerative diseases. Intermediate filaments (IF) and associated proteins (IFAP) are major substrates of PADs. Here, we focus on the effects of deimination on the polymerization and solubility properties of IF proteins and on the proteolysis and cross-linking of IFAP, to finally expose some features of interest and some limitations of citrullinomes. Keywords: citrullination; post-translational modification; cytoskeleton; keratin; filaggrin; peptidylarginine deiminase 1. Introduction Intermediate filaments (IF) constitute a unique macromolecular structure with a diameter (10 nm) intermediate between those of actin microfilaments (6 nm) and microtubules (25 nm). In humans, IF are found in all cell types and organize themselves into a complex network. They play an important role in the morphology of a cell (including the nucleus), are essential to its plasticity, its mobility, its adhesion and thus to its function.