Nestin Forms a Flexible Cytoskeleton by Means of a Huge Tail Domain That Is Reversibly Stretched and Contracted by Weak Forces
Nestin is a type VI intermediate filament protein and a well-known neural stem cell marker. It is also expressed in high-grade cancer cells, forming copolymerized filaments with vimentin. We previously showed that nestin inhibits the binding of vimentin’s tail domain to actin filaments (AFs) by ster...
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2025-01-01
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| author | Ayana Yamagishi Rina Tokuoka Kazuki Imai Mei Mizusawa Moe Susaki Koki Uchida Saku T. Kijima Akira Nagasaki Daijiro Takeshita Chiaki Yoshikawa Taro Q. P. Uyeda Chikashi Nakamura |
| author_facet | Ayana Yamagishi Rina Tokuoka Kazuki Imai Mei Mizusawa Moe Susaki Koki Uchida Saku T. Kijima Akira Nagasaki Daijiro Takeshita Chiaki Yoshikawa Taro Q. P. Uyeda Chikashi Nakamura |
| author_sort | Ayana Yamagishi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Nestin is a type VI intermediate filament protein and a well-known neural stem cell marker. It is also expressed in high-grade cancer cells, forming copolymerized filaments with vimentin. We previously showed that nestin inhibits the binding of vimentin’s tail domain to actin filaments (AFs) by steric hindrance through its large nestin tail domain (NTD), thereby increasing three-dimensional cytoskeleton network mobility, enhancing cell flexibility, and promoting cancer progression. Further, we found that nestin itself stably binds to AFs via the NTD. We therefore hypothesized that the NTD may form a flexible cytoskeletal structure by extending with weak force. In vitro tensile tests using atomic force microscopy were performed to assess the mechanical properties of NTDs. The C-terminus of the NTD bound AFs by bringing the AFM tip modified with the NTD into contact with the AFs on the substrate. NTDs were elongated to approximately 80% of their maximum length at weak forces < 150 pN. Repeated tensile tests revealed that the NTD refolded quickly and behaved like a soft elastic material. We speculate that nestin stably binds AFs, and the NTD extends with weak force, contracting quickly upon load release. Thereby, nestin would absorb mechanical load and maintain cytoskeletal integrity. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7a92608c0b364403a05cb57eb82c864d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2073-4409 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cells |
| spelling | doaj-art-7a92608c0b364403a05cb57eb82c864d2025-01-24T13:26:49ZengMDPI AGCells2073-44092025-01-0114213810.3390/cells14020138Nestin Forms a Flexible Cytoskeleton by Means of a Huge Tail Domain That Is Reversibly Stretched and Contracted by Weak ForcesAyana Yamagishi0Rina Tokuoka1Kazuki Imai2Mei Mizusawa3Moe Susaki4Koki Uchida5Saku T. Kijima6Akira Nagasaki7Daijiro Takeshita8Chiaki Yoshikawa9Taro Q. P. Uyeda10Chikashi Nakamura11Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Central 5 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba 305-8565, Ibaraki, JapanCellular and Molecular Biotechnology Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Central 5 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba 305-8565, Ibaraki, JapanCellular and Molecular Biotechnology Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Central 5 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba 305-8565, Ibaraki, JapanCellular and Molecular Biotechnology Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Central 5 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba 305-8565, Ibaraki, JapanCellular and Molecular Biotechnology Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Central 5 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba 305-8565, Ibaraki, JapanCellular and Molecular Biotechnology Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Central 5 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba 305-8565, Ibaraki, JapanBiomedical Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Central 6 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba 305-8566, Ibaraki, JapanBiomedical Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Central 6 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba 305-8566, Ibaraki, JapanBiomedical Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Central 6 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba 305-8566, Ibaraki, JapanResearch Center for Macromolecules and Biomaterials, National Institute for Materials Science, 1-2-1 Sengen, Tsukuba 305-0047, Ibaraki, JapanDepartment of Physics, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Waseda University, 3-4-1 Okubo, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 169-8555, JapanCellular and Molecular Biotechnology Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Central 5 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba 305-8565, Ibaraki, JapanNestin is a type VI intermediate filament protein and a well-known neural stem cell marker. It is also expressed in high-grade cancer cells, forming copolymerized filaments with vimentin. We previously showed that nestin inhibits the binding of vimentin’s tail domain to actin filaments (AFs) by steric hindrance through its large nestin tail domain (NTD), thereby increasing three-dimensional cytoskeleton network mobility, enhancing cell flexibility, and promoting cancer progression. Further, we found that nestin itself stably binds to AFs via the NTD. We therefore hypothesized that the NTD may form a flexible cytoskeletal structure by extending with weak force. In vitro tensile tests using atomic force microscopy were performed to assess the mechanical properties of NTDs. The C-terminus of the NTD bound AFs by bringing the AFM tip modified with the NTD into contact with the AFs on the substrate. NTDs were elongated to approximately 80% of their maximum length at weak forces < 150 pN. Repeated tensile tests revealed that the NTD refolded quickly and behaved like a soft elastic material. We speculate that nestin stably binds AFs, and the NTD extends with weak force, contracting quickly upon load release. Thereby, nestin would absorb mechanical load and maintain cytoskeletal integrity.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/2/138nestinintermediate filamentactinatomic force microscope |
| spellingShingle | Ayana Yamagishi Rina Tokuoka Kazuki Imai Mei Mizusawa Moe Susaki Koki Uchida Saku T. Kijima Akira Nagasaki Daijiro Takeshita Chiaki Yoshikawa Taro Q. P. Uyeda Chikashi Nakamura Nestin Forms a Flexible Cytoskeleton by Means of a Huge Tail Domain That Is Reversibly Stretched and Contracted by Weak Forces Cells nestin intermediate filament actin atomic force microscope |
| title | Nestin Forms a Flexible Cytoskeleton by Means of a Huge Tail Domain That Is Reversibly Stretched and Contracted by Weak Forces |
| title_full | Nestin Forms a Flexible Cytoskeleton by Means of a Huge Tail Domain That Is Reversibly Stretched and Contracted by Weak Forces |
| title_fullStr | Nestin Forms a Flexible Cytoskeleton by Means of a Huge Tail Domain That Is Reversibly Stretched and Contracted by Weak Forces |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nestin Forms a Flexible Cytoskeleton by Means of a Huge Tail Domain That Is Reversibly Stretched and Contracted by Weak Forces |
| title_short | Nestin Forms a Flexible Cytoskeleton by Means of a Huge Tail Domain That Is Reversibly Stretched and Contracted by Weak Forces |
| title_sort | nestin forms a flexible cytoskeleton by means of a huge tail domain that is reversibly stretched and contracted by weak forces |
| topic | nestin intermediate filament actin atomic force microscope |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/2/138 |
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