19-21. Cytoskeleton Flashcards
What is the primary function of actin filaments?
determine cell shape, movement, secretion, and endocytosis
What is the primary function of microtubules?
- position membrane bound organelles
- intracellular transport direction
- form centrioles/mitotic spindle
- form cilia/flagella
What is the primary role of intermediate filaments?
- mechanical strength
2. resist mechanical stress
What is the structure of actin filaments?
- two-stranded helical polymer
- compact and globular
- flexible
What is the structure of microtubules?
- long hollow cylinder
- formed by tubulin subunits
- one end attached to microtubule organizing center (centrosome)
What is the structure of intermediate filaments?
- rope-like
2. span cytoplasm and cell-cell junction to provide support
Which surface of cells absorbs nutrients?
apical
What quadruples the surface area in intestinal cells to increase absorption rate?
- microvilli which form from actin units
What allows cytoskeletal filaments to re-arrange rapidly?
- non-covalent bonds between protein subunits
What is a protofilament?
- long linear string of proteins joined end-to-end.
must be stacked next to one another to increase strenght. 1 is weak
A stacked formation of protofilaments is most stable, what is the result of staggered protofilament assembly?
- flexible, bending and stretching intermediate filaments.
2. yarn-like properties
Polymerization of an actin filament refers to what?
- assembly of actin or tubulin monomers into a polymer
What is nucleation?
- the initial step required for polymer assembly to occur.
What units combine to form actin nucleation site?
alpha, beta, gamma
Describe lag phase of filament formation.
- filament nucleation
2. rate-limiting step and formation of aggregate
Describe the growth phase of filament formation.
- elongation of polymer
2. rapid addition of monomers to nucleated filament
Describe the steady equilibrium phase of filament formation?
1.addition of new subunits equals rate of subunit disassociation
What is the critical concentration, and when does it occur?
- occurs during the equilibrium phase (steady state)
2. refers to concentration of monomers in solution
Tubulin is a heterodimer structure of what?
alpha, beta units non-covalently linked
Does tubulin (microtubules) have polarity?
yes. due to alpha/beta subunit addition
Does actin have polarity?
yes, head to tail arrangement causes polarity.
What is the plus-end?
- fast-growing end
2. consists of beta-tubulin or barbed end
What is the minus end?
- slow-growing, shrinking end
2. pointed end on tubulin
What will cause treadmilling?
- plus end addition is faster than minus end.
- plus end will remain with a triphophate nucleotide and minus end will remain with diphosphate nucelotide
- polymer remains a constant length as the plus and minus ends change at the same rate.
- predominates in actin filaments
What type of filaments is treadmilling predominant in?
actin filaments.
What is catastrophe?
- microtubule begins to shrink
What is the cause of catastrophe?
- nucleotide hydrolysis more rapid than subunit addition, causing the cap to be lost and microtubule fall apart
What is rescue?
- GTP units add to shrinking end, and can form a cap