Cytoskeleton Flashcards
What is actin?
Actin is a cytoskeleton protein comprised of multiple subunits arranged in trimers
What are the three phases of actin polymerization and what is the rate-limiting step?
Nucleation, Polymerization, Steady State
Rate-limiting: nucleation
What is the role of formin?
Formin catalyzes nucleation by binding the first couple monomers
What is the role of Arp 2/3?
Arp 2/3 forms branches in the actin filaments.
What is the role of ADF/cofilin?
Cofilin dissociates actin monomers and cleaves actin filaments
What is the role of profilin?
Profilin stimulates filament formation by replacing ATP with ADP on G-actin. However, actin subunit will not polymerize with profilin still bound.
What is the function of CapZ?
CapZ binds to the positive end of actin filaments and prevents new subunits from being added, this leads to filament degradation.
What is the function of Tropomodulin?
Tropomodulin binds to the negative end of actin filaments and prevents subunits from being removed, this leads to filament polymerization.
What is the function of Fimbrin?
Fimbrin binds actin filaments closely together, forming bundles
What is the function of a-actinin?
Connects actin filaments, however is more spacious than fimbrin. Allows the filaments to act as one unit and contract.
What is the function of filamen?
Filamin is responsible for connecting the actin filaments into networks.
What is the function of the WASP protein?
The WASP protein is responsible for activating Arp 2/3 and allowing it to form branches. (Used in cellular movement)
What is Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome and what is it caused by?
WAS is an immune disease caused by a defect in the WASP protein gene. It presents as a triad of thrombocytopenia, eczema, and recurring pyogenic infections. It is an x-linked recessive disease, characterized by B and T cell dysfunction.
What family of proteins makes up intermediate filaments in the epithelium?
Keratin
Describe how an intermediate filament is formed
First, two monomers line up parallel to each other to form a dimer.
Next, two of these dimers arrange anti-parallel to each other to form a tetramer.
Next, tetramers form protofilaments by lining up end to end.
Last, protofilaments group together to form a filament