Cell Biology
The cytoskeleton is a collection of protein bundles that protect, transport materials, and assist with cell division in eukaryotic cells. It consists of three major components: microfilaments, intermediate filaments, and microtubules. Microfilaments, composed of polymerized chains of the protein actin, protect cells from physical force and facilitate cellular movement through interactions with the ATP powered protein myosin. Microfilaments also play a crucial role in cytokinesis, the final step in cell division.
Intermediate filaments, made of filamentous proteins such as keratin, desmin, vimentin, and lamins, provide structural support to cells by making them more rigid and holding organelles in place. Microtubules, which are hollow tubes made of strings of tubulin protein, create a network of pathways throughout a cell, helping provide structure and assisting in the transport of vesicles between organelles by ATP-using proteins kinesin and dynein. Centrosomes contain two centrioles that organize a cell's microtubule network and aid in the segregation of chromosomes during cell division. Some cells also have external motile structures made of microtubules, such as cilia and flagella, which are involved in cell movement.
Lesson Outline
<ul> <li>Introduction to the cytoskeleton</li> <ul> <li>Three major components: microfilaments, intermediate filaments, and microtubules</li> </ul> <li>Microfilaments</li> <ul> <li>Composition: polymerized chains of the protein actin</li> <li>Location: mostly near the plasma membrane</li> <li>Functions:</li> <ul> <li>Protect cells from physical force</li> <li>Facilitate cellular movement (with myosin and ATP)</li> <li>Play a crucial role in cytokinesis (cell division)</li> </ul> </ul> <li>Intermediate filaments</li> <ul> <li>Composition: made of filamentous proteins</li> <li>Location: dispersed throughout a cell</li> <li>Functions:</li> <ul> <li>Provide structural support to cells</li> <li>Withstand tension, making cells more rigid</li> <li>Help keep organelles in place</li> </ul> </ul> <li>Microtubules</li> <ul> <li>Composition: hollow tubes made of strings of tubulin protein</li> <li>Location: distributed throughout the cytoplasm</li> <li>Functions:</li> <ul> <li>Provide structure to the interior of the cell</li> <li>Create a network of pathways for transporting materials (with kinesin and dynein proteins)</li> <li>Assist in organizing a cell's microtubule network with centrosomes and centrioles</li> <li>Crucial for cell division and chromosome segregation</li> </ul> </ul> <li>Centrosomes and Centrioles</li> <ul> <li>Composition: made up of nine microtubule triplets</li> <li>Functions:</li> <ul> <li>Organize the cell's microtubule network</li> <li>Crucial for cell division and mitotic/meiotic spindles</li> </ul> </ul> <li>Motile structures (cilia and flagella)</li> <ul> <li>Composition: nine pairs of microtubules with two microtubules running through the middle</li> <li>Functions:</li> <ul> <li>Cilia: move materials on the surface of the cell</li> <li>Flagella: allow an entire cell to move</li> </ul> </ul> </ul>
Don't stop here!
Get access to 35 more Cell Biology lessons & 8 more full MCAT courses with one subscription!
FAQs
The cytoskeleton consists of three main components: microfilaments, intermediate filaments, and microtubules. Microfilaments, composed of actin and myosin, are involved in cell movement, shape maintenance, and muscle contractions. Intermediate filaments, made of various proteins, provide structural support and mechanical stability to cells. Microtubules, built from tubulin proteins, play crucial roles in maintaining cell shape, intracellular transport, and cell division.
ATP (adenosine triphosphate) provides the energy required for the dynamic behavior of the cytoskeleton. Motor proteins like myosin and dynein use the energy released from ATP hydrolysis to generate movement along actin filaments or microtubules, respectively. Similarly, ATP is essential for the polymerization and depolymerization processes of microtubules and microfilaments, allowing the cytoskeleton to remodel its structure in response to cellular needs.
Centrioles are cylindrical structures composed of microtubules and are located within the centrosome, an organelle near the nucleus of a cell. They play a crucial role in cell division by forming the spindle apparatus. During cell division, a pair of centrioles duplicates and migrates to opposite poles of the cell, organizing the microtubules into spindle fibers. These spindle fibers attach to chromosomes and ensure their proper segregation to daughter cells during mitosis and meiosis.
The cytoskeleton, particularly microtubules, plays a significant role in intracellular transport. Various motor proteins, such as dynein and kinesin, move along microtubules to transport organelles, vesicles, and other cellular components between different regions of the cell. This process is essential for maintaining cellular organization, distributing materials for cell growth and division, and facilitating communication between different cellular compartments.
