Cytoskeleton Flashcards
General functions of the cytoskeleton
- Maintain structural integrity
- Cell movement
- Causes changes in cell shape
- Contraction of muscles
- Moves organelles, vesicles, and protein to distal parts of the cell
- Provides binding sites for RNA and proteins
3 filamentous components of the cytoskeleton
Microfilaments
Microtubules
Intermediate filaments
Major protein component of each of the 3 cytoskeleton components?
Microfilaments = actin
Microtubules = alpha and beta tubulin
Intermediate filaments = varies according to the filament
General functions of each
Microfilaments = cell adhesion, cell movement, muscle contraction
Microtubules = move vesicles, granules, organelles, and chromosomes
Intermediate filaments = mechanical integrity of the cell, motility, scaffolds for signaling molecules
How does ATP control the formation of actin filaments
ATP-G-actin is added at a faster rate to the + end of the growing filament
Polymerization activates the intrinsic ATPase activity of the actin molecule
Once the ATP has been —> ADP + Pi…the association of the actin in the filament is less stable…and the actin monomer will tend to fall off the - end
Thymosin beta4 and profilin
Actin associated proteins that bind to the ATP-G-actin and sequester it from the polymerization process
Role of cofilin and profilin in the formation of actin filaments
Profilin:
Enhances exchange of ADP for ATP on G-actin and but also sequesters actin from the pool of polymerizable actin monomers…
Cofilin:
Bind to F-actin…whose subunit contain ADP…when it binds, it breaks the actin filament into shorter pieces…this generates more - ends and therefore enhances the disassembly of the filament
Function of CapZ and tropomodulin
CapZ:
Binds to the + end of the filaments and prevents the addition of new G-actin monomers
Tropomodulin:
Binds at the - end and stabilizes the filaments
Family of proteins that promote formation of long, unbranched filaments
Formin
Found in stress fibers and the contractile ring
What actin associated protein stimulate formation of branched filaments
WASp and the Arp2/3 complex
Function of fibrim
Organizes filaments in MICROVILLI
Function of spectrin
Organizes filaments at the CELL CORTEX
Role of CDC42 and WASp in actin assembly
CDC42:
Small GTPase of the Rho family that can be activated by growth factors…once activated it can activate Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome protein (WASp)
Which leads to the nucleation of actin filaments by Arp2/3 complex
Difference between lamellipodia and filopodia
- Is a projection of polymerized actin projection on the mobile edge of the cell…contains a quasi-2-dimensional actin mesh…
The whole structure propels the cell across a substrate
Within the lamellipodia are ribs of actin called microspikes…which when they sperad beyond the lamellipodium are called filapodia
Hereditary spherocytosis
RBCs are small and fragile because of a defect in spectrin, protein 4.1, or ankyrin
Patients usually have anemia and enlarged spleens because of the enhanced breakdown of RBCs
Gallstones composed of bilirubin are also common
Epidermolysis bullosa
Mutations of keratins 5 or 14
Can cause defects in the junction between the epidermis and dermis
What does G-actin stand for?
globular-actin … has ATPase activity
One actin molecule not attached to anything
Every G-actin monomer has a binding site for ATP and Mg2+…which are necessary for actin polymerization (these sites are located in the ‘dimple’ of the molecule)
Molecule is considered ‘polar’ since this dimple is only on one side
What does F-actin stand for?
Key info about it?
Filamentous actin
Many monomers connected together (unlike G-actin)
Which side are actin monomers added to of the fiber?
(+) side
Aka…’dimple first’
Side that actin monomers are removed from
(-) side