title: Origins of elasticity in intermediate filament networks.
abstract: Intermediate filaments are common structural elements found in abundance in all metazoan cells, where they form networks that contribute to the elasticity. Here, we report measurements of the linear and nonlinear viscoelasticity of networks of two distinct intermediate filaments, vimentin and neurofilaments. Both exhibit predominantly elastic behavior with strong nonlinear strain stiffening. We demonstrate that divalent ions behave as effective cross-linkers for both networks, and that the elasticity of these networks is consistent with the theory for that of semiflexible polymers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.
authors.forename: Yi-Chia
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Norman Y
authors.initials: NY
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Chase P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Broedersz
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Herrmann
authors.forename: Fred C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Mackintosh
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Weitz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D004548:Elasticity; D006801:Humans; D007382:Intermediate Filaments / Q000737:chemistry*; D014746:Vimentin / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D014746:Vimentin