Abstract
One marker of mesenchymal cells is the expression of vimentin intermediate filament (VIF) proteins, which assemble into networks. The cytoskeleton is typically comprised of these intermediate filament networks, actin, and microtubules. While some aspects of VIF networks have been characterized in bulk, their mechanical properties in situ have not been well defined. Here we use microrheological techniques to study VIF network mechanics in cells in which microtubules and actin have been removed so that VIF can be studied independently of the other cytoskeletal components. Simultaneous imaging of the network allows us to correlate network structure with its local mechanical properties.
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