Tuning intermediate filament mechanics by indirect and direct charge variations

The cytoskeleton is formed by three types of filamentous proteins – microtubules, actin filaments, and intermediate filaments (IFs) – and enables cells to withstand external and internal forces. Vimentin is the most abundant IF in humans and has remarkable mechanical properties, such as high extensibility and stability. It is, however, unclear to which extent these properties are influenced by the electrostatic environment. Here, we study the mechanical properties of single vimentin filaments by employing optical trapping combined with microfluidics. Force-strain curves, recorded at varying ion concentrations and pH values, reveal that the mechanical properties of single vimentin IFs are influenced by direct (pH) and indirect (ionic) charge variations. By combination with Monte Carlo simulations, we connect these altered mechanics to electrostatic interactions of subunits within the filaments. We thus find possible mechanisms that allow cells to locally tune their stiffness without remodelling the entire cytoskeleton.