cytoskeleton II Flashcards
what forms microtubules? how is it done?
subunits of tubulin; Alpha and beta tubulin subunits bind GTP; alpha keeps it in structure, beta can use it
how does growth occur in microtubule formation?
at beta end of tubule
how do microtubules demonstrate dynamic instability? what does it mean?
= either catastrophe or rescue; sudden conversion from growth to shrinkage and vice versa
what is catastrophe? rescue?
catastrophe = growth to shrinkage
rescue = shrinkage to growth
where does nucleation occur in microtubule formation? what does this? is there a specific quantity that needs to be made?
Nucleation occurs in the MTOC (centrosome) using gamma tubulin and other proteins that serve as a “template” for the 13 protofilament structure
what is the centrosome and what does it include? how does it relate to microtubule formation? when else is it important?
Centrosome is a microtubule organizing center (MTOC) with embedded centrioles and nucleation sites: important during mitosis; microtubules grow from here
what is the function of kinetochore, non-kinetochore, and astral microtubules?
kinetochore = hold onto chromatin and centrosome
non-kinetochore = push/pull to separate cell
astral = anchor spindle poles to cell membrane
what are cilia and flagella made of? what produces their movement?
Made from microtubules and motor proteins; axoneme
what function does a flagella give a cell? what about cilia?
allows it to swim through liquid media (propels cell); beat rhythmically and move fluid over cell surfaces
what is the difference bw cilia and flagella?
cilia are shorter, do not move cells
what are 3 examples where cilia is found?
respiratory tract, gut epithelium, inner ear hair cells
what is an axoneme? what is it made of?
core of cilium/flagellum; Made of microtubules and associated proteins in a special pattern
Explain how bending works within microtubules.
Linker proteins stop microtubules from sliding, make them bend instead
what is a disorder caused by hereditary dynein deficits? what does the disorder entail?
Kartagener syndrome; chronic lung disease due to insufficient movement of cilia; also embryonic development issues
what causes Kartagener syndrome?
mutations on two genes on chromosome 9 cause defect in dynein arms; this leads to paralyzed cilia which causes syndrome
what is primary cilia? what is its purpose? where can it be found?
nonmotile cilia that all cells have; Act as responder to external environment, serves as signaler or receptor (antennae); nasal epithelial cells
where are intermediate filaments found? some examples of these filaments?
Found in vertebrate cells that are required to deal with mechanical stress (nuclear, epithelial, axonal)
what characteristics about intermediate filaments makes it different from the other proteins?
do not contain a nucleotide binding site (not ATPases), not polar (both ends of the proteins are the same), not clear how they assemble
what is the most diverse family of intermediate filaments? what do they do?
Keratins; These anchor to desmosomes or hemidesmosomes
what happens to defective keratin?
Alterations in keratins lead to unusual “blistering” diseases, it no longer holds the cell in place
what’s an example of a condition caused by keratin defects? what does it cause?
epidermolysis bullosa; skin ruptures or blisters with any mechanical stress
where are neurofilaments important? where are they found and how do they contribute?
important in axons, esp. during development; these contribute to axonal diameter which is then important for speed of action potential
what can alteration and accumulation of neurofilaments cause?
ALS- muscle atrophy and filament breakdown
what is the function of growth cones? why do they do this?
find and form connections with other cells; grow or shrink based on environmental cues
