Desmoplakin is the most abundant desmosomal component that plays a critical role in linking intermediate filament networks to the desmosomal plaque. Desmoplakin
forms rod-like dimers that bind to intermediate filaments and to the cadherin-associated proteins plakoglobin and plakophilin. Gene knock-out experiments have revealed an essential role of desmoplakin in establishing cell–cell contacts in early mouse embryos.