Structural component of intermediate filaments in basal keratinocytes of stratified epithelia. Forms obligate heteropolymers with the type II keratin KRT5, contributing to the keratin intermediate filament network that confers mechanical strength and structural integrity to the basal layer of the epidermis and other stratified epithelial (PubMed:11724817, PubMed:1694855, PubMed:1720261). The nonhelical tail domain is involved in promoting KRT5-KRT14 filaments to self-organize into large bundles and enhances the mechanical properties involved in resilience of keratin intermediate filaments in vitro (PubMed:11724817). {ECO:0000269|PubMed:11724817, ECO:0000269|PubMed:1694855, ECO:0000269|PubMed:1720261}. This is the function of ENSG00000186847 (KRT14, keratin 14).