Intermediate filaments are constructed from two-chain, α-helical, coiled-coil molecules arranged on an imperfect helical lattice and have been widely used as markers for distinguishing individual cell types within a tissue and identifying the origins of metastatic tumors. One such intermediate filament protein, Vimentin, is a general marker of cells originating in the mesenchyme. Vimentins are class-III intermediate filaments found in various non-epithelial cells, especially mesenchymal cells. It is attached to the nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum, and mitochondria, either laterally or terminally. It is Involved with LARP6 in the stabilization of type I collagen mRNAs for CO1A1 and CO1A2.
