exam 3b Lecture 27 Flashcards
What are the three filament systems of the cytoskeleton?
Microtubules (largest diameter), actin filaments (smallest diameter), intermediate filaments
Functions of the cytoskeleton
Movement of cells through liquid, movement of fluids over cells (cilia), movement of organelles in cells, movement within cells (mitotic spindle), movement of cells, cytokinesis (splitting of two cells), cell shaping (microvilli in intestinal epithelial cells example), structural support of cells/tissues (intermediate filaments especially)
Properties of cytoskeleton filaments
The filaments are polymers. They are dynamic. They have polarity.
How are filaments polymers?
Assembled from monomer subunits (polymerized)
How are filaments dynamic?
Signaling – disassembly/reassembly; nucleotide hydrolysis controls assembly of actin, tubulin; protein phosphorylation controls assembly of intermediate filament proteins
What is polarity of filaments?
Structurally different at each end. Have different assembly characteristics. Different in function and structure (not intermediate filaments).
How are cytoskeleteal filaments held together?
By many noncovalent bonds (end to end and side to side) between the subunits
Are single filaments flexible? They are also known as?
Yes. Protofilaments.
How are multiple aligned protofilaments different from a single protofilament?
They are stronger but less flexible.
Why are intermediate filaments strong and flexible?
Due to staggered arrangement of elongated subunits
Functions of actin cytoskeleton
Filament assembly dynamics; actin-binding proteins; cell shaping; generation of force for cell movements
How does actin cytoskeleton generate force for cell movement?
a. myosin motor proteins b. actin assembly generates force
How do chloroplasts move in Elodea leaves?
On actin filaments
What are actins?
Highly conseeved 50 kDa proteins in all eukaryotes
What do actins bind?
ATP that can be hydrolyzed when the monomer is in a polymer
What does G (globular) actin form when it spontaneously polymerizes?
F (filamentous) actin
What is actin also known as?
Microfilaments
How do actins polymerize?
Monomers assemble head-to-tail, resulting in structural polarity
What is an actin polymer?
Right-handed helix of two protofilaments
Diameter of actin polymer?
8-9 nm
What ends does actin polymer have?
Plus and minus ends
How long is actin molecule?
37 nm
Assembly components of actin filaments?
Purified actin + Mg2+ + ATP in physiological salt concentration
What does actin rate of assembly depend on?
Concentration of monomer (KonCc)
What is rate of dissambly independent of monomer concentration?
Koff
Equilibrium equation
konC = koffCc = koff/kon
when does spontaneous actin polymer assembly happen?
If Conc of monomer is above Cc
When does spontaneous actin polymer disassembly happen?
If Conc of monomer is below Cc
Is ATP hydrolysis required for actin polymer assembly?
No. It occurs in the presence of nonhydrolyzable analogs of ATP.
What is Cc?
Concentration of monomers at steady state
Three phases of polymerization of actin?
Nucleation (lag phase), elongation (growth phase), steady state (equilibrium phase)
What does structural polarity of the filament result in?
Assembly polarity.
Where is rate of assembly higher?
At the plus or barbed end. It is lower at minus or pointed end.
How does ATP hydrolysis occur within the polymer? How does it affect the monomer?
Stochastically (randomly). It changes the shape of the monomer, giving it less affinity for the polymer.
With what is the minus end enriched?
ADP actin. ATP hydrolyzation happens because the polymerization rate is slower, allowing for ATP hydrolysis. More ADP on pointed end than barbed end.
How doe Cc for minus and plus end compare? Why?
Cc for minus end is higher than for plus end. Cc = koff/kon = rate of disassembly/rate of assembly. Rate of disassembly is higher for minus end because ADP reduces monomer affinity for polymer.
What happens when the [C] of free monomer is between Cc of plus and minus ends?
The filaments undergo treadmilling.
What is treadmilling?
Assembly at the plus end and disassembly at the minus end results in a flux of monomers through the polymer. There is addition at plus end but overall loss at minus end, so length doesn’t change.
How does cytochalasin D affect actin assembly?
Binds and caps F-actin plus ends; filament disassembles