Vimentin intermediate filaments stabilize dynamic microtubules by direct interactions

• Published in: Nature communications Vol. 12; no. 1; pp. 3799 - 12
• Main Authors: Schaedel, Laura, Lorenz, Charlotta, Schepers, Anna V., Klumpp, Stefan, Köster, Sarah
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 18.06.2021; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 631/57; 639/766/747; Actin; Crosstalk; Cytoskeleton; Depolymerization; Dimers; Filaments; Humanities and Social Sciences; Intermediate filaments; Microtubules; multidisciplinary; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Tubulin; Vimentin
• ISSN: 2041-1723; 2041-1723
• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23523-z

The cytoskeleton determines cell mechanics and lies at the heart of important cellular functions. Growing evidence suggests that the manifold tasks of the cytoskeleton rely on the interactions between its filamentous components—actin filaments, intermediate filaments, and microtubules. However, the nature of these interactions and their impact on cytoskeletal dynamics are largely unknown. Here, we show in a reconstituted in vitro system that vimentin intermediate filaments stabilize microtubules against depolymerization and support microtubule rescue. To understand these stabilizing effects, we directly measure the interaction forces between individual microtubules and vimentin filaments. Combined with numerical simulations, our observations provide detailed insight into the physical nature of the interactions and how they affect microtubule dynamics. Thus, we describe an additional, direct mechanism by which cells establish the fundamental cross talk of cytoskeletal components alongside linker proteins. Moreover, we suggest a strategy to estimate the binding energy of tubulin dimers within the microtubule lattice. The tasks of the cytoskeleton depend on the fine-tuned interplay between the three filamentous components: actin filaments, microtubules, and intermediate filaments. Here, the authors show in a reconstituted in vitro system that vimentin intermediate filaments stabilize microtubules against depolymerization and support microtubule rescue by direct interactions.