Exam 3: lecture 8 Flashcards
What are microfilaments? + functions
smallest of the filaments (7nm)
-best known for role in muscle contraction (motor proteins)
functions:
cell migration
amoeboid movement
cytoplasmic streaming
development & maintenance of cell shape (beneath the plasma membrane at the cell cortex)
structural core or microvilli
what protein is the building block of microfilaments?
actin
once synthesized, folds into a globular-shaped molecule that can bind to ATP/ADP—>
G-action: globular (free+ not attached to a microfilament)
F-actin: G-actin polymerize (strung+attached)
to add:
ATP –hydrolyzed–> GDP
How does microfilament polarity work?
S1 fragments bind + decorate the actin MFs in a distinctive arrowhead pattern
barbed end: +end
pointed end: - end
a)brief treatment w/ trypsin
split into light meromyosin +heavy meromyosin
b) further treatment
light+ heavy
heavy:
arrowhead—> S1 + S1 (use these to attach to MFs)
S2
treadmilling of actin microfilaments in Vitro
no net change in length, MTs can still add g-actin monomers at + ends and lose them at the - ends
-less dynamic than microtubules
-this occurs when the -end is not attached to cell protein
Drugs that affect polymerization of MFs: cytochalasins
fungal metabolites that PREVENT the addition of new monomers to existing MFs (keep g-actins from binding)
Drugs that affect polymerization of MFs: latrunculin A
toxin that sequesters (isolate) actin monomers + prevent their addition to MFs
Drugs that affect polymerization of MFs: phalloidin
stabilizes MFs and prevent their depolymerization (works on polymerization structures & keep them from falling apart) `
what regulates the polymerization, length, and organization of actin? + examples
actin-binding proteins
-control occurs at the nucleation, elongation, and severing of MFs and the association of MFs into networks
1.monomer binding protein (thymosin)
2. filament severing proteins (gelsolin)
3. filament bundling proteins (alpha-actinin, fimbrin)
4. filament crosslinking: filamin
5. filament capping proteins (capz)
6. filament anchoring (spectrin, erm proteins)
what are intermediate filaments?
most stable+ least soluble+ not polarized
10 nm
most abundant: keratin
can support entire cytoskeleton
tissue specific
Intermediate filament: classes I and II
Class I: acidic keratins
Class II: basic/ neutral keratins
-make up tonofilaments found in epithelial surfaces covering the body and lining its cavities
Intermediate filament: class III
includes:
-vimentin (connective tissue)
-desmin (muscle cells)
-glial fibrillary acidic proteins (GFA) (gial cells)
Intermediate filament: class IV
neurofilament (NF) proteins found in neurofilaments of nerve cells
intermediate filament: class V
nuclear lamins A, B, C that form a network along the inner surface of the nuclear membrane (most stable in cytoplasmic structure)
intermediate filament: class VI
neurofilament in the nerve cells of embryos are made of nestin
what are the structural similarities of intermediate filaments?
central rodlike domain:
4 helical segments (spring rods)
3 linker segments
n domain: amino
c terminal: carboxy
What is the order of the structure of intermediate filament assembly in vitro
a) 2 IFpolypeptide
b) the polypeptides are coiled tgt to form a dimer
c) tetramer (2 dimers layered on top of each other)
d) protofilament (bunch of tetramers on top “ropelike”)
e) intermediate filament
How do these cytoskeletons confer mechanical strength?
MTs resist bending when a cell is compressed
MFs serve as contractile elements that generate tension
IFs are elastic and can withstand tensile forces
How do IFs help w the integrated structure?
important in structural determinants in cells and tissues— thought to have a tension-bearing role (both pulling apart tension & when they’re pushed tgt)
IFs are not static structures; they are dynamically transported and remodeled