Vimentin is one of the intermediate filaments that functions in structural support, signal transduction and organelle positioning of a cell. In the present study, we report the contribution of vimentin in mitochondrial morphology and organization. Using subcellular fractionation, immunoprecipitation and fluorescence microscopy analyses, we found that vimentin was associated with mitochondria. Knockdown of vimentin resulted in mitochondrial fragmentation, swelling and disorganization. We further demonstrated that the vimentin cytoskeleton co-localized and interacted with mitochondria to a greater extent than other cytoskeletal components known to support mitochondria. Our results also suggest that vimentin could participate in the mitochondrial association of microtubules. As mitochondrial morphologies determine mitochondrial function, our findings revealed a potentially important relationship between the vimentin-based intermediate filaments and the regulation of mitochondria.
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Research Article|
January 29 2008
Vimentin supports mitochondrial morphology and organization
Ho Lam Tang;
Ho Lam Tang
*Department of Biology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
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Hong Lok Lung;
Hong Lok Lung
†Department of Biology, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong
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Ka Chun Wu;
Ka Chun Wu
*Department of Biology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
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Anh-Huy Phan Le;
Anh-Huy Phan Le
‡Department of Molecular and Computational Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, U.S.A.
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Ho Man Tang;
Ho Man Tang
*Department of Biology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
§Department of Biology, Iowa State University of Science and Technology, Ames, IA 50011, U.S.A.
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Ming Chiu Fung
Ming Chiu Fung
1
*Department of Biology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
1To whom correspondence should be addressed (email mingchiufung@cuhk.edu.hk).
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
August 08 2007
Revision Received:
October 26 2007
Accepted:
November 06 2007
Accepted Manuscript online:
November 06 2007
Online ISSN: 1470-8728
Print ISSN: 0264-6021
© The Authors Journal compilation © 2008 Biochemical Society
2008
Biochem J (2008) 410 (1): 141–146.
Article history
Received:
August 08 2007
Revision Received:
October 26 2007
Accepted:
November 06 2007
Accepted Manuscript online:
November 06 2007
Citation
Ho Lam Tang, Hong Lok Lung, Ka Chun Wu, Anh-Huy Phan Le, Ho Man Tang, Ming Chiu Fung; Vimentin supports mitochondrial morphology and organization. Biochem J 15 February 2008; 410 (1): 141–146. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/BJ20071072
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