Vimentin supports cell polarization by enhancing centrosome function and microtubule acetylation

Cell polarity is important for controlling cell shape, motility, and cell division processes. Vimentin intermediate filaments are important for cell migration and cell polarization in mesenchymal cells and assembly of vimentin and microtubule networks is dynamically coordinated, but the precise details of how vimentin mediates cell polarity remain unclear. Here, we characterize the effects of vimentin on the structure and function of the centrosome and the stability of microtubule filaments in wild-type and vimentin-null mouse embryonic fibroblasts (mEFs). We find that vimentin mediates the structure of the pericentrosomal material, promotes centrosome-mediated microtubule regrowth, and increases the level of stable acetylated microtubules in the cell. Loss of vimentin also impairs centrosome repositioning during cell polarization and migration processes that occur during wound closure. Our results suggest that vimentin modulates centrosome structure and function as well as microtubule ..., All the data was collected by staining the cells with specific antibodies. The data was analyzed using FIJI-ImageJ., , # Vimentin supports cell polarization by enhancing centrosome function and microtubule acetylation

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.mcvdnck7d](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.mcvdnck7d)

Cell lines used in all data sets are

Vim+/+ = wild type (wt) cells - cells with vimentin

Vim-/- = vimentin null (vn) cells - cells without vimentin

All plots were made on Graph Pad Prism

All data was analyzed using FIJI-ImageJ software

### **Microtubule intensity near the centrosome- Fig 1d**

The microtubules in wt and vn cells were stained using alpha tubulin antibody. A box of fixed area was drawn around the centrosome, to measure the intensity of microtubules near the centrosome. The units are AU.

### **Area of centrosome marked by CEP215 - Fig 1e**

The area of the centrosome was marked using an antibody for CEP215 centrosomal protein (Peri-centriolar material protein). The Area of the centrosome was traced by using a freehand tool from FIJI ImageJ. The units are µm squared.

### **Area of centr...