9.2.16 Lecture Flashcards
(99 cards)
The cytoskeleton involves a dynamic array of what three interacting filaments?
- Actin (smallest, 5-7nm diameter)
- Microtubules (largest, 25 nm diameter)
- Intermediate filaments (medium, 10 nm diameter)
What are the 6 major functions of actin?
- Dictate cell shape
- Mediate cell adhesion
- Polarization
- Phagocytosis
- Muscle contraction
- Cell migration
Actin is localized below the ___.
Cell membrane
What determine cell shape and surface area?
Cortical actin and actin arrays
What are the two types of cell adhesion mediated by actin?
- Cell-cell, through adherens junctions
2. Cell-matrix through focal contacts
Actin arrays partition polarized cells into ___ and ___ compartments.
Apical; basal
The ___ is an actin-based structure.
Phagosome
Bundles of actin filaments are used by ___ for muscle contraction.
Myosin motors
What are the four general instances needing cell migration?
- Development
- Wound healing
- Immune system
- Cancer metastasis
What is the soluble subunit of actin?
Actin monomer
Describe the structure of the actin monomer.
Globular, contains ATP when in the cytosol, ADP when in the filament, has + and - end (polar)
What is the actin filament made of?
Flexible helix of 2 protofilaments
Actin monomers and filaments are ___. This gives it ___. Which end is more dynamic?
Polar; directionality; +
___ regulate actin filament assembly and disassembly.
Accessory proteins
Small soluble actin subunits are in ___ with large filamentous polymers.
Equilibrium
A signal can lead to disassembly of filaments and rapid ___ of subunits, followed by reassembly at a ___ site.
Diffusion; new
What are the three phases to actin filament assembly?
- Nucleation (lag phase)
- Elongation (growth phase)
- Steady state equilibrium (equilibrium phase)
What is the rate limiting step to actin filament assembly?
Nucleation
What is the critical concentration?
The concentration of actin monomers at steady state
What happens to the kinetics of actin formation if actin “nuclei” are added directly?
Removes the nucleation/lag phase
Actin is nucleated at the ___ end.
Minus
Nucleation occurs preferentially at the ___, which allows for cell surface structures to form.
Cell membrane
Nucleation occurs via what protein(s)?
Actin related proteins (ARP) -> ARP2 and ARP3
ARP binds pre-existing filaments at a ___ angle.
70 degree