GRIP1 is Involved in the Interaction of Vimentin Filaments with Focal Adhesions in Endothelial Cells

Vimentin intermediate filaments are dynamic structures that are able to move in cytoplasm owing to activity of the motor proteins, kinesin-1 and cytoplasmic dynein. How exactly motors interact with vimentin filaments remains unclear. In this work, I show that GRIP1 (Glutamate Receptor Interacting Protein 1), known as adapter for kinesin-1 on many cargoes in neurons, might also mediate kinesin-1 interaction with vimentin filaments. GRIP1 associates with vimentin filaments in various cells and co-immunoprecipitates with vimentin from cell lysates. Human endothelial cells knockout by GRIP1 gene lose focal adhesions and change their adhesive properties. Hypothetically, kinesin-1 engages GRIP1 to deliver vimentin filaments to the cell periphery so that they make contact with focal adhesions and stabilize them.