“Hightech” Materials From Nature – Researchers Discover Surprising Properties of the Cytoskeleton

Microscopy images of biological cells: top right (green) – Vimentin intermediate filaments in fibroblasts; bottom left (red) – Keratin intermediate filaments in epithelial cells. Scale: 10 µm. Credit: top right (green): Ulrike Rölleke. bottom left (red): Ruth Meyer

Göttingen University researchers discover surprising properties of the cytoskeleton.

Most biological cells have a fixed place in an organism. However, there are instances where these cells acquire mobility, enabling them to traverse the body. Such occurrences are seen during processes like wound recovery, or when cancerous cells divide indiscriminately and spread throughout the body. The characteristics of mobile and stationary cells exhibit several differences, one notable one being the structure of their cytoskeleton.

This structure of protein filaments makes the cells stable, stretchable, and resistant to external forces. In this context, “intermediate filaments” play an important role. Interestingly, two different types of intermediate filaments are found in mobile and stationary cells. Researchers at the University of Göttingen and ETH Zurich have succeeded in precisely measuring and describing the mechanical properties of the two filaments. In the process, they discovered parallels with non-biological materials. The results have been published in the journal Matter.

The scientists used optical tweezers to investigate how the filaments behave under tension. They attached the ends of the filaments to tiny plastic beads, which they then moved in a controlled way with the help of a laser beam. This stretched the two different types of filaments, which are known as vimentin and keratin. The researchers worked out which forces were necessary for the stretching and how the different filaments behaved when they were stretched several times.

Surprisingly, the two different filaments behave in contrasting ways when repeatedly stretched: vimentin filaments become softer and retain their length, keratin filaments become longer and retain their stiffness.

The experimental results match computer simulations of molecular interactions: in vimentin filaments, the researchers assume that structures open up, similar to gels made of several components; in keratin filaments, they assume that structures shift against each other, as in metals. Both mechanisms explain that the networks of intermediate filaments in the cytoskeleton can be deformed very strongly without being damaged. However, this protective factor is explained by fundamentally different physical principles.

“These results extend our understanding of why different cell types have such different mechanical properties,” explains Dr Charlotta Lorenz, first author of the study. Professor Sarah Köster, from Göttingen University’s Institute of X-Ray Physics and leader of the study, adds: “We can learn from nature and think about the design of new, sustainable and transformable materials whose properties can be chosen or designed to fit the requirements exactly.”

Reference: “Keratin filament mechanics and energy dissipation are determined by metal-like plasticity” by Charlotta Lorenz, Johanna Forsting, Robert W. Style, Stefan Klumpp and Sarah Köster, 22 May 2023, Matter.
DOI: 10.1016/j.matt.2023.04.014