Cytoskeleton

Question 1

What is it?

Answer 1

• It is present throughout cytoplasm of all eukaryotic cells
• It is a network of fibres necessary for the shape and stability of a cell.
• Organelles are held in place by cytoskeleton and it controls cell movement and movement of organelles within cell

Question 2

Microfilaments

Answer 2

• Contractile fibres formed from the protein actin
• responsible for cell movement and cell contraction during cytokinesis (process where the cytoplasm of a single cell is divided to form 2 daughter cells)

Question 3

Microtubules

Answer 3

• Globular tubulin proteins polymerise to form tubes that are used to form scaffold like structure that determines the shape of cell
• Act as tracks for the movement of organelles around cell
• Spindle fibres that are used in the physical separation of chromosomes are made of microtubules

Question 4

Intermediate Fibres

Answer 4

Give mechanical strength to cells and help maintain their integrity

Question 5

Centrioles

Answer 5

• Component of cytoskeleton present in most eukaryotic cells which are composed of microtubules.
• 2 centrioles form centrosome which is involved in the assembly and organisation of spindle fibres during cell division