Preparation and Microinjection of x-Rhodamine-Labeled Vimentin Protocol Intermediate filaments (IF) are major cytoskeletal systems of vertebrate and many nonvertebrate cells whose expression is cell-type specific and developmentally regulated. This protocol describes the x-rhodamine labeling of one type of IF, vimentin, and a method for microinjection of the labeled vimentin into cultured cells. IF dynamics can then be examined with fluorescence microscopy.
Purification of Bovine Lens and Bacterially Expressed Human Vimentin Protocol Intermediate filaments (IF) are major cytoskeletal systems of vertebrate and many nonvertebrate cells whose expression is cell-type specific and developmentally regulated. This protocol describes a method for purifying one type of IF, vimentin, from bovine lens tissue. Purification of human vimentin expressed in Escherichia coli is also described. These methods are useful in the preparation of other IF protein subunits for microinjection studies as well.