Definition:

Cytoskeletal linker protein that connects to intermediate filaments and controls their reorganization in response to stress. 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. 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).