Week 3 Flashcards
What makes up the cytoskeleton ?
Actin microfilaments, intermediate filaments , micro tubules
Microfilaments :
What is the structure ?
Diameter ?
Main functions ?
2 intertwined strands of actin, each a polymer of actin subunits
7nm
Maintenance of cell shape, changes in cell shape, muscle contraction , cytoplasmic streaming , cell motility , cell division
What are cellular extensions driven by ?
Actin polymerization
what do myosin molecules use to derive their energy to “walk” along actin filaments ?
ATP hydrolysis
What does the toxin Phalloidin do ?
Binds to F-actin preventing disassembly
What is the network of actin filaments just below the cell surface called ? What is its role ?
The cell cortex
It supports the plasma membrane and facilitates cell movement
What is the structure of micro tubules ?
Diameter ?
Protein subunit ?
main functions ?
Hollow tubes, wall consists of 13 columns of tubulin molecules
25nm with 15nm lumen
Tubulin , dimmer consisting of a-tubulin and b-tubulin
Maintenance of cell shape , cell motility ( cilia and flagella ) , chromosome movement in cell division , organelle movements
What happens when ATP is added to flagella and cilia ?
Bending of the flagella , causes motion
Which microtubule motors pull chromosomes ?
Kinetochores
What does ALS affect ? ( amyotrophic lateral sclerosis )
Affects nerve cells and spinal cord, affects movements and electrical signals due to alterations to nerve filaments
What happens with Epidermolysis Bullosa Simplex?
Defect in keratin 14 gene, skin peels at slight touch
What is the structure of intermediate filaments ?
Diameter ?
Subunits ?
Main function ?
Fibrous proteins supercoiled into thicker cables
8-12 nm
One of several different proteins depending on cell type
Maintenance of cell shape ( tension bearing elements ) , anchorage of nucleus and certain other organelles
Formation of nuclear lamina
What’s the difference between G actin and F actin ?
G actin is monomeric whereas F actin is the polymeric form that is involved in providing ell support and maintaining cell structure
What holds together the 2 lobes of the actin monomer ?
ATP
How is actin polymerization involved in fertilisation ?
The acrosome reaction in echinoderm sperm requires actin polymerization
What are the functions of microtubules ?
Maintenance of cell shape
Cell motility
Chromosome movement
Organelle movements
What does the drug taxol do ?
It is a cancer drug , it is used for ovarian cancer , breast cancer and lung cancer which prevents microtubules disassembly and therefore cell division in cancer cells.
What is the structure within each microtubule?
A core of axonemal microtubules ensheathed in an extension of the plasma membrane
9 doublets arranged in a ring , with 2 central ones connected by radial spokes 9 + 2 arrangement
What are doublets connected with in cilia and flagella ? What is its role ? What is the role of the cross links ?
Dynein protein which contracts at the expense of ATP forcing the doublets to move relative to each other
The cross links prevent the doublets sliding past each other so that the cilia or flagella bend
What are some differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic flagella ?
Prokaryotic flagella are proton driven but eukaryotic flagella are ATP driven
Prokaryotic - rotary movement eukaryotic - bending movement
What do kinesin and dynein motor proteins transport along microtubules at the expense of ATP ?
They transport membrane bound vesicles , proteins and organelles along microtubules at the expense of ATP