Fig. 9. Model for the formation of ring structures in DM-EBS keratinocytes in response to mechanical stretch. Breakage of mutant keratin results in small fragments of keratin attached to hemidesmosomal and desmosomal junctions. The subsequent loss of tension within the keratin filaments leads to the progressive disassembly of these junctions. Cytoplasmic proteins (coloured squares) from these junctions relocalise to the cytoplasm where they interact with keratin filaments which form ring structures presumably as breakage results in `sticky-ends'. Transmembrane components (green) do not relocalise and remain associated with the membrane.