The Desmoplakin Hinge Domain Confers a Reversible Conformational Change in Response to Acute External Force
Collin M. Ainslie, William F. Dean, Yen T. B. Tran, Samuel C. Bartley, Eunjoo J. Lee, Andrew P. Kowalczyk, Daniel E. Conway, Alexa L. Mattheyses
This paper identifies a reversible conformational change in the desmoplakin hinge domain in response to mechanical force, showing its role in mechanotransduction within desmosomes.
bioRxiv · Oct 23, 2026 · PreprintCell Biology