Plakophilins 1, 2, 3 and 4 (PKP1-4) influence development and participate in linking cadherins to cytoskeletal intermediate filaments. Plakophilins 1-4 contain arm-repeat (armadillo) domains, and localize to nuclei and cell desmosomes (cell-cell junctions found in suprabasal layers of stratifying epithelia that undergo mechanical stress). Plakophilin-1 mediates increases in desmosomal protein content, desmosome assembly, and regulation of cell migration.