Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

The Structure of Intermediate Filaments01:19

The Structure of Intermediate Filaments

5.6K
The intermediate filaments are one of three widely studied cytoskeletal filaments. They are so named as their diameter (10 nm) is in between that of microfilaments (7 nm) and the microtubules (25 nm).  These filaments are highly stable and can remain intact when exposed to high salt concentrations and detergents. These filaments are responsible for providing stability and mechanical support to the cells. They also help in cell adhesion and maintaining tissue integrity.
Intermediate...
5.6K
Disassembly of Intermediate Filaments01:35

Disassembly of Intermediate Filaments

2.6K
Intermediate filaments (IFs) do not undergo spontaneous disassembly. Enzymes, kinases, and phosphatases add and remove phosphates from specific sites to regulate their disassembly. The IF concentration in the cytoplasm also regulates the disassembly. If the concentration crosses a threshold, it activates the protein kinases in the vicinity, allowing the phosphorylation of IFs.
Keratin proteins, found at the cell periphery near cell junctions, undergo a cycle of assembly and disassembly. In Type...
2.6K
Types of Intermediate Filaments01:31

Types of Intermediate Filaments

4.8K
The intermediate filaments are an essential component of the cytoskeleton. Presently six types of intermediate filament have been identified. Type I and II are acidic and basic keratin proteins. Type III is of mesodermal origin and comprises four proteins: vimentin, desmin, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and peripherin. Vimentin is commonly found in mesenchymal cells, desmin in muscle cells, GFAP in astrocytes, while peripherin is found in peripheral nervous system neurons (PNS). Type...
4.8K
Formation of Intermediate Filaments00:57

Formation of Intermediate Filaments

3.9K
Intermediate filaments are cytoskeletal proteins with higher tensile strength and flexibility than microfilaments and microtubules. Unlike the other two cytoskeletal proteins, intermediate filament formation lacks the enzymatic activity to hydrolyze nucleotides like ATP and GTP to generate energy for polymerization. Therefore, the formation of intermediate filaments is multistep self-assembly. The involvement of any accessory proteins in intermediate filament formation has not yet been...
3.9K
Structural Protein Function01:56

Structural Protein Function

29.8K
Structural proteins are a category of proteins responsible for functions ranging from cell shape and movement to providing support to major structures such as bones, cartilage, hair, and muscles. This group includes proteins such as collagen, actin, myosin, and keratin.
Collagen, the most abundant protein in mammals, is found throughout the body. In connective tissue, such as skin, ligaments, and tendons, it provides tensile strength and elasticity.  In bones and teeth, it mineralizes to...
29.8K
Elevation of Intermediate Points on Vertical Curves01:20

Elevation of Intermediate Points on Vertical Curves

277
Vertical curves are essential in roadway design because they provide smooth transitions between varying roadway grades. Designing vertical curves involves calculating intermediate elevations and identifying the curve's highest or lowest point, which is essential for optimal roadway performance.Intermediate elevations on a vertical curve are determined using the tangent offset method. This method considers the initial elevation at the start of the curve, the grades, and the curve's geometry. The...
277

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

High-resolution nuclear cell biology by cryo-electron tomography.

Nucleus (Austin, Tex.)·2026
Same author

Segmented filamentous bacteria undergo a structural transition at their adhesive tip during unicellular to filament development.

Nature communications·2025
Same author

Spatial constraints drive amylosome-mediated resistant starch degradation by Ruminococcus bromii in the human colon.

Nature communications·2025
Same author

Nuclear lamina-associated domain biogenesis is regulated by nuclear pore density during embryogenesis and mediates UV protection.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2025
Same author

Mutation-induced filaments of folded proteins are inert and non-toxic in a cellular system.

Molecular systems biology·2025
Same author

Vimentin intermediate filaments as structural and mechanical coordinators of mesenchymal cells.

Nature cell biology·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 22, 2026

Imaging Intermediate Filaments and Microtubules with 2-dimensional Direct Stochastic Optical Reconstruction Microscopy
14:23

Imaging Intermediate Filaments and Microtubules with 2-dimensional Direct Stochastic Optical Reconstruction Microscopy

Published on: March 6, 2018

11.4K

Insights into the Structure of Intermediate Filaments.

Matthias Eibauer1, Ohad Medalia2

  • 1Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. m.eibauer@bioc.uzh.ch.

Sub-Cellular Biochemistry
|January 20, 2026
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Intermediate filaments (IFs) provide mechanical cell integrity. New research reveals the 3D structure of vimentin IFs (VIFs) using integrated modeling and microscopy, uncovering helical symmetry and a luminal fiber.

Keywords:
Cryo-EMHelical symmetryIntermediate filamentsStructural determinationVimentin

More Related Videos

Isolation of Intermediate Filament Proteins from Multiple Mouse Tissues to Study Aging-associated Post-translational Modifications
09:29

Isolation of Intermediate Filament Proteins from Multiple Mouse Tissues to Study Aging-associated Post-translational Modifications

Published on: May 18, 2017

8.9K
Advanced Self-Healing Asphalt Reinforced by Graphene Structures: An Atomistic Insight
08:03

Advanced Self-Healing Asphalt Reinforced by Graphene Structures: An Atomistic Insight

Published on: May 31, 2022

5.6K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jan 22, 2026

Imaging Intermediate Filaments and Microtubules with 2-dimensional Direct Stochastic Optical Reconstruction Microscopy
14:23

Imaging Intermediate Filaments and Microtubules with 2-dimensional Direct Stochastic Optical Reconstruction Microscopy

Published on: March 6, 2018

11.4K
Isolation of Intermediate Filament Proteins from Multiple Mouse Tissues to Study Aging-associated Post-translational Modifications
09:29

Isolation of Intermediate Filament Proteins from Multiple Mouse Tissues to Study Aging-associated Post-translational Modifications

Published on: May 18, 2017

8.9K
Advanced Self-Healing Asphalt Reinforced by Graphene Structures: An Atomistic Insight
08:03

Advanced Self-Healing Asphalt Reinforced by Graphene Structures: An Atomistic Insight

Published on: May 31, 2022

5.6K

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biophysics
  • Structural Biology

Background:

  • Intermediate filaments (IFs) are crucial for cell mechanical integrity and various cellular processes.
  • IF proteins self-assemble into nanoscale biopolymers with tissue-specific properties.
  • The 3D structure of IFs remains largely unknown due to flexibility and polymorphism.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent advances in IF structural analysis.
  • To focus on the detailed 3D structure of vimentin IFs (VIFs).
  • To explore the sources and implications of IF polymorphism.

Main Methods:

  • Integration of AlphaFold-based modeling.
  • Analysis of chemical cross-linking data.
  • Utilization of cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) reconstructions.

Main Results:

  • A detailed structural model of VIFs has been generated.
  • Key features include helical symmetry of the filaments.
  • A central luminal fiber within the VIFs has been identified.

Conclusions:

  • The integrated approach provides a detailed structural model for VIFs.
  • Understanding VIF structure clarifies their role in cellular mechanics.
  • Further research into IF polymorphism is needed to fully interpret structural data.