Cytoskeleton Flashcards
What are the components of the cytoskeleton? AIM
- actin microfilaments 2. intermediate filaments 3. microtubules
What is the cytoskeleton?
proteins that provide shape to the cell
What are the functions of the cytoskeleton?
- transportation of vesicles 2. motility e.g. sperm 3. structure 4. anchoring organelles
What movements do the cytoskeleton aid in?
- movement of cell organelles 2. movement of cell
Actin Filaments
thin and flexible - 7 nm
Structure of actin filaments?
each filament is a twisted chain of identical globular actin molecules
Funtions of actin filaments?
- in contractile ring 2. pull cell into various shapes
Name actin dependent motor proteins?
myosin-I
How do motor proteins generate movement?
use ATP hydrolysis
What is DMD?
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy - failure of the protein dystrophin to hold the actin microfilaments inside the muscle cells to their attachment points on the membrane so when the cells move, they rip their membranes apart and die and then the muscle cells swell and burst as fluid enters through the torn membranes.
What makes up the contractile ring of mitosis?
actin + myosin
Intermediate Filaments
provide great tensile strength, tough and durable - 10 nm in diameter
Structure of intermediate filaments?
long strands of fibrous proteins twisted together to provide tensile strength
Location of intermediate filaments?
- tight junctions 2. in cytoplasm surrounding nucleus and extending out into the cytoplasm 3. within nucleus as part of nuclear lamina that supports nuclear envelope
Types of intermediate filaments?
- keratin 2. vimentin 3. neurofilaments 4. nuclear lamins