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 network stability, which has important implications for how
cells establish proper cell polarization and persistent migration.