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PMID: 8769421 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

The function of intermediate filaments in cell shape and cytoskeletal integrity.

The Journal of cell biology ·Vol. 134 ·No. 4 ·1996-08-00 ·Pages 971-83

Goldman RD, Khuon S, Chou YH, Opal P, Steinert PM

Abstract

This study describes the development and use of a specific method for disassembling intermediate filament (IF) networks in living cells. It takes advantage of the disruptive effects of mimetic peptides derived from the amino acid sequence of the helix initiation 1A domain of IF protein chains. The results demonstrate that at 1:1 molar ratios, these peptides disassemble vimentin IF into small oligomeric complexes and monomers within 30 min at room temperature in vitro. Upon microinjection into cultured fibroblasts, these same peptides induce the rapid disassembly of IF networks. The disassembly process is accompanied by a dramatic alteration in cell shape and the destabilization of microtubule and actin-stress fiber networks. These changes in cell shape and IF assembly states are reversible. The results are discussed with respect to the roles of IF in cell shape and the maintenance of the integrity and mechanical properties of the cytoplasm, as well as the stability of the other major cytoskeletal systems.

MeSH Terms
3T3 Cells Amino Acid Sequence Animals Cell Size/drug effects,physiology Cells, Cultured Colchicine/pharmacology Cricetinae Cytoskeletal Proteins/biosynthesis Cytoskeleton/metabolism Fibroblasts Intermediate Filaments/physiology Kidney Mice Microinjections Microtubules/drug effects,metabolism Molecular Sequence Data Peptide Fragments/chemical synthesis,pharmacology Polymers Vimentin/biosynthesis,chemistry,metabolism,pharmacology
Chemicals
Cytoskeletal Proteins Peptide Fragments Polymers Vimentin Colchicine
Authors & Affiliations
5 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Goldman R D
Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA.
Khuon S
Chou Y H
Opal P
Steinert P M
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Article Info
Journal
The Journal of cell biology
Abbr.
J Cell Biol
ISSN
0021-9525
DOI
10.1083/jcb.134.4.971
Published
1996-08-00
Pages
971-83
Language
English
Region
United States
NLM ID
0375356
PMCID
PMC2120965
Subset
IM
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1083/jcb.134.4.971 PMC Full Text View journal details
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