# Regulation and Function of Intermediate Filaments in Cell Mechanics

> **NIH NIH P01** · NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $417,188

## Abstract

Project(Summary—Project(1((Goldman)
 In this project, we are testing the hypothesis that the assembly states and mechanical properties of the
type III intermediate filament network composed of vimentin is an important component of the cytoskeleton in
regulating the micromechanical properties of cells in response to mechanical stress and in signal transduction
and cell motility. Vimentin is the major intermediate filament protein expressed in mesenchymal cells and is
critically important for cell migration, wound healing, the epithelial-mesenchymal-transition in normal
development and in cancer, and in the response of cells to mechanical stress. We propose to use several
microscopy methods including 3D-structured illumination, total internal reflection, and cryo-electron tomography
to investigate the structure of vimentin in cells. We will use a wound healing model to identify steps in the process
of vimentin network assembly/disassembly in the response of fibroblasts to mechanical stress, including the
regulation of vimentin synthesis. These studies will also include the identification and characterization of
interactions among vimentin, microtubules, and actin stress fibers, as well as the details of the interactions of
vimentin with focal adhesions. The effects of different vimentin network assembly states on whole cell and
subcellular mechanical properties will also be examined by micro-rheological methods and atomic force
microscopy. Finally, the role of vimentin phosphorylation on network assembly, wound healing, interactions with
other cytoskeletal components and cellular structures, and cellular mechanics will also be examined using both
whole cell and biochemical approaches.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9994767
- **Project number:** 5P01GM096971-08
- **Recipient organization:** NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** ROBERT D GOLDMAN
- **Activity code:** P01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $417,188
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2011-06-15 → 2022-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9994767

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9994767, Regulation and Function of Intermediate Filaments in Cell Mechanics (5P01GM096971-08). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9994767. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*