""Essentially, these filaments are typically considered as the most non-dynamic component of the cytoskeleton," Gelfand said. "People generally believe that filaments just help cells to keep their shape and prevent mechanical damage. But a long time ago, we started to suspect that the filaments are more dynamic than people think." Contrary to long-held beliefs that these filaments are rigid and bundled, Gelfand and his laboratory found that vimentin filaments are highly mobile and travel individually along microtubules, the cell's internal highways."
"As they probe the inner workings of cells, they are not only expanding understanding of cellular processes but also paving the way for novel therapies and diagnostics. Recent research led by Vladimir Gelfand, PhD, the Leslie B. Arey Professor of Cell, Molecular, and Anatomical Sciences, and Sergey Troyanovsky, PhD, professor of Dermatology, and of Cell and Developmental Biology, has illuminated new roles for cytoskeletal filaments and intercellular junctions."
Advanced live-cell imaging reveals vimentin intermediate filaments are highly mobile and move individually along microtubules, indicating active participation in intracellular transport and structural adaptation. These filaments were previously viewed as largely static elements that maintained cell shape and resisted mechanical damage. Separate experiments identify a novel mechanism that protects epithelial cells from damage and illuminate dynamic roles for intercellular junctions. Together, the findings overturn long-standing assumptions about cytoskeletal rigidity, show coordinated interactions with molecular motors and microtubules, and point toward new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches targeting cytoskeletal dynamics and epithelial resilience.
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