Cytoskeleton II Flashcards
What makes up the structure of microfilaments?
- Actin (main component)
- other proteins that bind and regulate function and activity
In non-muscle cells what is the importance of actin?
- cell structure
- movement of contraction of cells
What generates the force felt by microfilaments?
myosin motors
What forms the contractile unit of skeletal muscle?
Actin filaments and Myosin
Describe the polymerization of actin
- Single dumbell shaped monomers of actin polymerize head to tail to form a helical filament of actin
- Head to tail attachment means actin is polar (There is more rapid addition at the + end than at the - end)
- Actin bound to ATP will add to the growing filament
What are the different isoforms of actin, and what tissues are they present in?
- alpha (muscle tissue)
- Beta (non-muscle)
- Gamma (non-muscle)
To which end of the actin filament are monomers more rapidly added?
The + end
T or F: The polymerization of actin does not require high energy molecules such as ATP or GTP?
False, actin microfilament assembly is ATP-dependent. Free actin monomer bound to ATP is incorporated into polymer faster at the plus end of the filament. Following incorporation, ATP is hydrolyzed promoting depolymerization at the minus end
What promotes actin depolymerization, and from what end does depolymerization occur?
ATP hydrolysis causes monomers to break off from the - end
T or F: microfilaments are more stable than microtubules
True - This is partly explained by a slower rate of dissociation of monomers under conditions found in the cells and because the critical concentration for assembly is lower relative to the total amount of actin in the cell.
- generally >50% assembly of actin is in filaments
How do Cytochalasin and Phalloidin affect microfilament polymerization and how do they work?
Cytochalasin
- binds to the + end of the microfilament and prevents further polymerization
Phalloidins
- bind tightly along the sides of the actin filament, preventing depolymerization
What do microfilaments look like relative to microtubules other than being thinner?
- They are shorter and more flexible
- Usually they are found in bundles or cross-linked aggregates
How do thymosin and profilin act on actin monomers?
Thymosin - binds monomers preventing assembly
Profilin - promotes monomer assembly
What does tropomyosin do?
Regulates myosin-dependent force generation
T or F: actin can form many different structures depending on associated proteins
True
How does Gelsolin work?
converts actin gel into a more fluid state by exposing more actin-ADP which makes actin filaments more likely to disassemble
What are profilin, thymosin, myosin, tropomyosin, and gelosin examples of?
Proteins that interact with actin filaments to regulate and change activity on the bases of cellular need
What are 4 common motifs actin can be arranged into and what are their purposes? (I.e. what are the main functions of microfilaments)
microvilli - absorption
Stress Fibers - contraction and adhesion
Lamellipodia, Filopodia - Cell Migration
Contractile Ring - cytokinesis
In contractile bundles of stress fibers, what is the alignment of actin?
antiparallel
What protein is involved in providing force to epithelial cells in monolayers to undergo shape changes?
Actin
What are lamellipodia and filipodia made of and what do they do?
- Parallel bundles of actin filaments
- end points in the same direction (parallel)
Involved in cell migration
What is the adhesion of cell to the ECM dependent on and how do these structures work?
Stress fibers
- anchored in the plasma membrane at integrin depedent focal contacts
-antiparallel microfilament bundles
What is the purpose of Stress fibers, what is their use in the body?
-Adhesion of cells to the extracellular matrix is dependent upon stress fibers (anti-parallel microfilament bundles) that are anchored in the plasma membrane at integrin-dependent focal contacts.
- Exert tension on the matrix surrounding them
- Essential for wound healing and morphogenesis
What is microfilament organization dependent on?
the associated proteins (varies dramatically).
What are the highly branched microfilaments of lamellipodia dependent on?
actin-related protein (ARP) complex.
Depolymerizing proteins on the - end of the lamellipodia cause polymerization of actin filaments ‘branches’ and monomers from the ARP complex binding them to the main trunk of the microfilament. These free branches are them transported to the + end of the microfilament trunk where they are re-added and capped. This cycle promotes forward movement.
Some pathogens use actin assembly to propel themselves inside animal cells
T or F: Contractile force provided by actin filaments lead to morphogenetic changes during development
True. This causes the invagination of the neural tube during development
What type of protein drives the elongation of actin filament?
Formin dimers
What are Rho proteins, what are they activated/deactivated by?
- proteins are responsible for reorganizing different microfilament populations via a cellular signal
- These run on a GTP/GDP switch with GTP bound state being active and GDP bound state being inactive
What are some members of the Rho family and where are they found?
Rho - stress fibers
Rac - lamellipodia
cdc42 - filipodia