lecture 8 Flashcards
why are there differences in actin in a cell vs. test tube
due to presence of actin binding proteins that regulate cytoskeletal form and function
what is first type of actin binding proteins
control filament assembly
what is second class of actin binding proteins
responsible for nucleating actin filaments/cytoskeleton
third class of actin proteins
shape structure of those filaments [arranges actin filaments]
what proteins in first class
thymosin, profilin, cofilin
what proteins in second class
formin, arp 2/3
what proteins in third class
fimbrin, alpha actinin, filamin
what do proteins that control filament assembly do
control the rxn of where monomers are being added or removed from actin filaments
what does thymosin do
binds to actin monomers and prevents them from being added to actin filaments
what does profilin do
opposite of thymosin; binds actin monomer and puts it on actin filaments hella fast (so it happens much faster than in test tube)
what does cofilin do
binds to existing actin filaments & breaks them apart into component pieces
why is cofilin important
limited # of monomers in cell, so it recycles old filaments into monomers so they can be used in new actin structures
what do actin binding proteins responsible for nucleating actin cytoskeleton do
kinda like cofactors/enzymes that catalyze nucleation step
why is nucleation faster in cell vs test tube
b/c of proteins that provide as scaffold to bring oligomer together in right place & right time –> overcome penalty of time it takes to seed a new filament
what do these 2nd class of proteins generate
2 distinct actin networks
what is formin
nucleates & facilitates polymerization of long, straight actin filaments
what is arp 2/3
branched, straight actin filaments
what does arp 2/3 do
does a branch coming off of a pre-existing filament –> enormous branched actin netowrk which forms lamellipodia
what is lamellipodia
leading edge of migrating cells
what kinds of filaments can the third class of protein make
filaments that are branched, tightly, or loosely bundled
what do different arrangements allow actin to do
function in specific ways in diff parts of cell
what are proteins that arrange actin filaments
fimbrin, alpha actinin, filamin
what is fimbrin
short cross linker; takes those long straight actin filaments and bundles them together into a very tightly woven bundled actin fiber
what is alpha actinin
loosely bundled filament, essential for helping myosin to fit in actin fibers to create contractile machinery (actomyosin stress fibers)