Cytoskeleton: Microtubules Flashcards
What are the 3 cytosolic proteins that make the cytoskeleton?
Microfilaments, actin filaments, intermediate filaments
Microtubule and actin can do what rapidly?
Grow and shrink
Where do microtubules originate?
Centrosome
What is the smallest filament of cytoskeleton?
actin
What are the main functions of the cytoskeleton?
Support & strength cell movement intracellular movement cytokenesis AKA mitosis changes in cell shape
Name two microtubule motor proteins we have to know
dynein & kinesin
What is the name of the motor protein on actin?
myosin
Axons are full of _____ to allow transport of vesicles
microtubules
What protein subunits make up a microtubule?
alpha-tubulin and beta-tubuiln
How many columns of tubulin molecules make up a microtubule?
13
Where do microtubules originate from in the cell?
centrosome
Which filament is the most rigid and provide the “support beams”
microtubules
What acts as the motile elements in cilia & flagella?
microtubules
Where is the location of actin in a cell?
Around the perimeter
What is the diameter of microtubule?
25 nm
What is a protofilament?
A linear arrangement of 13 alpha and beta tubulin
Describe the structure of a microtubule
straight and hollow tubes, made up of a protofilaments
How does the microtubule shrink and grow?
alpha and beta dimers polymerize end to end
What is the charge of the alpha and beta subunits of microtubules?
alpha -
beta +
Describe the charge of a microtubule
It grows alpha then beta subunits, so beta is positive end and its farthest from cell nucleus, towards periphery of cell. the negative end is at the centrosome, by the nucleus
What is needed in order for beta dimers to bind together?
GTP
What part of microtubule is capped with GTP?
beta-tubulin
Describe the difference b/w a GDP and GTP bound alpha/beta dimer in a microtubule
If it is GDP bound it is unstable, it will depolymerize. If it is GTP bound it is stable and will keep growing/associating with each other.
There are GDP bound dimers at negative end of microtubule, what stops them from breaking apart?
There are a bunch of other GTP bound dimers on top that keep it together
Where does depolymerization occur of microtubule
Top of microtuble (positive end)
Why is the bottom part of a microtubule bound to GDP?
GTP will gradually be hydrolysed to GDP and phosphate
What happens if GDP-tubulin reach growing end?
Catastrophe - depolymerization. Loss of that microtubule
What is catastrophe?
When the GDP-tubulin catches up to growing end and then depolymerisation
When GTP-tubulin allows for more growth on + side of microtubule, what is it called?
Rescue
Explain the dynamic instability of microtubules
constant catastrophe and rescue. The microtubule is either growing or shrinking. GTP hydrolysis is either caught up or enough GTP is added so that the microtubule can grow
What is the growth rate of a microtubule proportionate to?
concentration of GTP-tubulin dimers
What does beta tubulin hydrolyse?
GTP to GDP
What happens if hydrolysis of GTP catches up with dimer addition?
catastrophe - microtubule will shrink
What is a microtubule singlet?
13 protofilaments - a single column of actin and beta tubulin
What is the purpose of a microtubule singlet?
carry & move vesicles, organelles, chromosomes
What is a microtubule doublet?
Two rings of actin and beta tubulin
Where is a doublet microtubule found?
cilia & flagella
What is an axoneme?
the central strand of a cilium or flagellum
What is an axoneme made up of?
Doublet microtubule
What does MTOC stand for?
Microtubule organizing center
What makes up a centrosome?
2 centrioles
What makes up a centriole?
9 triplet microtubules