Lecture 4

Question 1

What is the protein that makes up microtubules?

Answer 1

A dimer of alpha and beta tubulin

Question 2

What molecule is in the tubulin dimer that is often a target for cancer drugs?

Answer 2

Taxol

Question 3

What is the difference between the alpha and beta forms of tubulin?

Answer 3

Alpha can not hydrolyse GTP

Question 4

What is the lagging end in microtubule formation?

Answer 4

The -ve end where alpha tubulin is

Question 5

What structures do microtubules form?

Answer 5

Only the hub and spoke formation

Question 6

What is the centrosome or microtubule organisation centre?

Answer 6

The centre of the hub and spoke formation made by microtubules

Question 7

What is the microtubule organisation centre responsible for?

Answer 7

Arranging the microtubules into complex structures inorder to fulfill such functions as growth of an axon

Question 8

What direction do the microtubules grow in?

Answer 8

The +ve end is always pointing outwards

Question 9

What motor proteins transport crago along the microtubules?

Answer 9

Dyenin and Kinesin

Question 10

What direction does Kinesin travel in?

Answer 10

Toward the +ve end of the microtubule

Question 11

What direction does Dyenin travel in?

Answer 11

Towards the -ve end or the centre of the wheel