Lecture 12 : The Scaffold of the Cell Flashcards
1
Q
Components of cytoskeleton
A
3 major protein filaments
- Actin microfilaments
- Tubulin microtubules
- Intermediate filaments
2
Q
Roles of microtubules within cells
A
- Maintain cell shape
- Intracellular movement
- Cellular movement
- Formation of mitotic spindle
- Tracks for movement of vesicles / organelles
3
Q
What is tubulin
A
- Composes microtubules
- Dimer of 100kDa
- Made from α and β tubulin subunits
4
Q
Structure of Microtubules
A
- Have polarity, + and - ends
- Rings of protofilaments
- Thickest of the cytoskeleton filaments (25nm)
- α and β subunits
5
Q
How do microtubules grow
A
6
Q
What are microtubule associated proteins?
A
type of protein that binds to and stabilises microtubules, as well as speeding up polymerisation and improving their functions
7
Q
What does actin do
A
- Maintain cell shape
- Cell movement and chemotaxis
- Tracks for movement of vesicles or organelles
8
Q
Actin structure
A
- Globular protein
- 42 kDa
- α β and γ actin
- Each monomer can bind to 1 ATP or ADP
- Subunits are polar and assemble head to tail
9
Q
Effect of drugs on actin
A
Drugs can act on actin and stabilise actin, can kill cells
10
Q
A
