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Mechanics of vimentin intermediate filaments

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Abstract

It is increasingly evident that the cytoskeleton of living cells plays important roles in mechanical and biological functions of the cells. Here we focus on the contribution of intermediate filaments (IFs) to the mechanical behaviors of living cells. Vimentin, a major structural component of IFs is many cell types, is shown to play an important role in vital mechanical and biological functions such as cell contractility, migration, stifness, stiffening, and proliferation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Physiology Program, Harvard School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA, 02115, USA

    Ning Wang

  2. Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, 44 Cummington St., Boston, MA, 02215, USA

    Dimitrijie Stamenovic

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  1. Ning Wang
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  2. Dimitrijie Stamenovic
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Wang, N., Stamenovic, D. Mechanics of vimentin intermediate filaments. J Muscle Res Cell Motil 23, 535–540 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1023470709071

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