topic 5B Flashcards
cytoskeleton
a network of filaments extending throughout the cytoplasm
the cytoskeleton is composed of 3 types of filaments
- microfilaments
- intermediate filaments
- microtubules
the thinnest type of filament, made of actin filaments
microfilaments
the type of filament composed of different types of proteins such as keratin
intermediate filaments
the thickest type of filaments, made of tubulin filaments
microtubules
cytoskeleton functions
supports, maintains cell shape, anchors organelles, provides motility
protein subunits of microtubules
tubulin
protein subunits of microfilaments
actin
functions of microtubules
- mitotic spindle formation
- shape the cell
- guide movement of organelles
the continuous polymerization/depolymerization of microtubules depends on
GTP hydrolysis
GTP hydrolysis during tubulin polymerization
- GTP attached to β-tubulin hydrolyzes to GDP
- GTP bound to α-tubulin does not hydrolyze
drugs that affect microtubule stability/formation
anti-mitotic drugs - inhibit the mitotic spindle formation
ex: anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer drugs
examples of anti-mitotic drugs
- colchicine - binds to tubulin monomers to inhibit microtubule polymerization during PROPHASE
- taxol - binds to tubulin monomers, stabilizes microtubules by inhibiting their depolymerization during mitotic ANAPHASE
microtubule polymerization begins at
microtubule organizing centers (MTOC)
microtubule orientation
the (-) end is oriented towards the cell center (MTOC) and the (+) end is towards the periphery
MTOC types
- centrosome
- basal body
- polar body
- chromosomal kinetochores of mitotic spindle
MTOC in most non-dividing cells
centrosome
MTOC in flaggelated and ciliated cells
basal body
MTOC in some fungi
polar body
MTOC in dividing cells (during metaphase)
chromosomal kinetochores of the mitotic spindle
centrosome structure
- has two centrioles
- each centriole consists of 9 triplets of microtubules (9+0 arrangement)
pericentriolar material
- space around centrosome
- used in microtubule nucleation
how does pericentriolar material initiate microtubule polymerization
- contains γ-tubulin
which facilitates the nucleation of the α/β-tubulin dimers by binding to the (-) end of microtubules
microtubules role in motility
used as “monorails” for the movement of cellular cargo from the cell center to the periphery