2.4: The Cytoskeleton Flashcards
list the 4 major functions of the cytoskeleton
- structural support: cell shape
- internal organization of cell: organelles, vesicle transport
- cell division: chromosome segregation, divide cell into two
- large scale movements: crawling cell, muscle contraction
list the 3 protein filaments that make up the network of the cytoskeleton
- actin
- microtubules
- intermediate filaments
which of the protein filaments present in the cytoskeleton contribute to the structural support
af, mt, if
which of the protein filaments present in the cytoskeleton contribute to the internal organization of the cell
mt
which of the protein filaments present in the cytoskeleton contribute to cell division
af, mt
which of the protein filaments present in the cytoskeleton contribute to large scale movements
af
compare and contrast the microscopy techniques to look at the cytoskeleton (light microscope, fluorescence microscope, transmission electron microscope)
light microscope
- resolution limit of ~200 nm
- limits from wv of visible light
- cannot resolve cytoskeletal filaments
fluorescence microscope
- reso limit of ~200 nm
- fluorescent labels are added to detect specific proteins eg immunofluorescence
- also makes it seem larger than it is
transmission electron microscope (best, better size accuracy)
- uses beams of e, very short wv
- reso limit of ~1 nm
- reveals detailed structures
state the diameter range of the cytoskeletal filaments
7nm to 25nm
describe the use of immunofluorescence microscopy in in cytoskeletal imaging
- used to determine location of proteins within cell
- cells are fixed (not live imaging) eg by using formaldehyde
- primary antibody used to bind to specific protein of interest
- secondary antibody binds to the primary antibody – covalently tagged to a fluorescent marker
- fluorescence microscope used to excite fluorescent marker and visualize light emitted
- Less amplification effect if you add fluorescence to the primary antibody compared to the second and also it’s more expensive (secondary is cheaper to buy)
order the filaments from smallest to largest
actin < intermediate < microtubules
through what interactions are cytoskeletal filaments held together by
filaments are held together by noncovalent interactions
what are actin filaments, intermediate filaments, and microtubules composed of
actin filaments - actin
intermediate filaments - intermediate filament proteins
microtubules - tubulin
name the two types of IF proteins and their purposes
- cytoplasmic IF: in animal cells subjected to mechanical stress (eg keratin filaments in epithelial cells of the skin), provide mechanical strength (overall examples include presence in connective-tissue cells, muscle cells, glial cells, nerve cells)
- nuclear IF: nuclear lamina (2d meshwork) formed by lamins in all animal cells that have a nucleus (plants have diff ones)
cytoplasmic IF proteins have a conserved _________________ central rod domain and they pack together into rope like filaments
a helical
t/f the N- and C- terminal domains differ in cytoplasmic IF proteins
true
t/f do cytoplasmic intermediate filaments have polarity, and why
no polarity bc no polarity in the tetramers bc the ends are the same
in cytoplasmic intermediate filaments:
2 monomers –> __________________
2 dimers –> _________________
__ (#) tetramers associate side by side and assemble into a _____________
2 monomers –> coiled coil dimer
2 dimers –> staggered antiparallel tetramer
8 tetramers associate side by side and assemble into a filament
in cytoplasmic intermediate filaments:
a) _______ region of monomer
b) _________ _____ dimer
c) ___________ __________ tetramer of b)
a helical, coiled coil, staggered antiparallel tetramer
describe the cytoplasmic intermediate filaments (what adjectives help it not rupture)
tough, flexible, high tensile strength
describe the role of intermediate filaments in an epithelial cell
- keratin filaments in epithelial cells
- form network throughout cytoplasm out to cell periphery
- anchored in each cell at: cell-cell junctions (desmosomes), connect to neighbouring cells
- provides mechanical strength
- epithelium is the sheet of cells covering an external surface or lining an internal body cavity
what are microtubules involved in
- cell organization: vesicle transport, organelle transport and positioning, centrosomes (animal cells)
- mitosis
- structural support: cells, motile structures (flagella, cilia)
name and describe the properties of tubulin
- long, stiff hollow tubes (like cylinders)
- inextensible (= not elastic)
- made of individual subunits of a (-) and b (+) tubulin (closely related globular proteins) = tubulin heterodimer
NOTE THAT THE + - IS NOT BC OF CHARGE - tubulin heterodimer is bound to GTP
- arrangement of a and b subunits = polarity
- 13 protofilaments (a line of heterodimers) = hollow tube
arrange the following into order of organization from smallest to largest (and how many of each if that is known)
protofilament, tubulin dimer, microtubule, tubulin
tubulin, tubulin dimer, protofilament, microtubule
the noncovalent bonds _________ protofilaments are weaker than the bonds ________ each protofilament (options: between, within)
between, within
t/f can growth and disassembly of microtubules occur at both ends
yes
which end of the microtubule is growth more rapid at
plus end
what happens after the protofilament has been there for awhile
After it’s been in a protofilament for a while, beta tubulin will cut GTP to GDP (a phosphate leaves) - and will change it from a t form heterodimer to a d form heterodimer - if we have t form dimers, we are more likely to have microtubule growth and then opposite for d form (shrinking) — any growing or shrinking can only occur at the ends
__ microtubule = __ parallel proton filaments forming the hollow tube. – some cells have bundles of microtubules (bundles of cylinders)
1, 13
in the cell, microtubules grow out from ___________
mtocs (microtubule, organizing centers)
which end of the microtubule is stabilized at mtoc
minus end (alpha end)