Vimentin filament organization and stress sensing depend on its single cysteine residue and zinc binding.

ABSTRACT: The vimentin filament network plays a key role in cell architecture and signalling, as well as in epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Vimentin C328 is targeted by various oxidative modifications, but its role in vimentin organization is not known. Here we show that C328 is essential for vimentin network reorganization in response to oxidants and electrophiles, and is required for optimal vimentin performance in network expansion, lysosomal distribution and aggresome formation. C328 may fulfil these roles through interaction with zinc. In vitro, micromolar zinc protects vimentin from iodoacetamide modification and elicits vimentin polymerization into optically detectable structures; in cells, zinc closely associates with vimentin and its depletion causes reversible filament disassembly. Fina

SUBMITTER: Perez-Sala D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4458873 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature