module 7 Flashcards
(45 cards)
define: cytoskeleton
- network of prot. based filaments that provide scaffolding struc. to cell
- dynamic network
- allows growth, movement, differentiation
- made up of 3 diff. filaments
1. actin
2. microtubules
3. intermediate filaments
explain: cytoskeleton role in cell structure
- proves shape + struc.
⤷ esp. specialized struc. in differentiated cells - ex. struc.:
⤷ microtubules in cilia
⤷ actin filaments in microvilli of epi. cells - cell shape dep. on unique functions of filament
explain: dynamic property of cytoskeleton
- important for cells that move, undergo migration, or cell division
- ex. ovarian cancer cell migrating
⤷ expresses actin-GFP - ex. breast cancer cell undergoing division (mitosis)
⤷ expresses tubulin:GFP
explain: labelling for each fiber in cytoskeleton
ACTIN
- typically labelled w/ fluorescently-tagged phalloidin
⤷ derived from death cap mushroom
- binds w/ high affinity + specificity
- stabilizes filament
- can also be labelled w/ antibody or prot. fusion (ex. Actin:GFP)
MICROTUBULES
- labelled w/ antibodies specific to a tubulin subunit or prot. fusion (ex. Tubulin:GFP)
INTERMEDIATE FILAMENTS (IF)
- labelled w/ antibody specific to subunit of IF or GFP-fusion
explain: each type of fiber in cytoskeleton
ACTIN
- microfilaments
- thinnest
- made of monomeric actin asubunits
MICROTUBULES
- thickest
- made of dimeric subunits of alpha and beta tubulin
IF
- many types
- each assemebled from diff. prot.
explain: distribution + location of cytoskeleton fiber types for epithelial cell
- actin = forms shape of microvilli at apical side
- IF = span cell for struc. support
- microtubules = form networks for intracellular transport
explain: filament-specific motor prot.
- move along actin and microtubules
- no motor prot. for IF
- myosin move along actin
- kinesin and dynein move along microtubules
- generally: heads bind to actin/microtubules, tail attaches to cargo
- powered by ATP hydrolysis
explain: actin-based cell mvts. (location of actin, func.)
- highest density of actin = cell periphery
- func.:
⤷ establish microvilli
⤷ form contractile bundles that form sarcomeres (power musc. cell contraction)
⤷ form filopodia and lamellipodia for cell migration
⤷ form contractile ring (directs cytokinesis or division)
explain: struc. of actin
- actin = F-actin
- 2 strands of helical polymer
⤷ each strand = G-actin - actin filaments = polar
⤷ use myosin head binding to show which side is plus vs minus
⤷ plus = grows faster + barbed
⤷ minus = grows slower, may shrink, pointed
⤷ plus side = newer actin = not covered in myosin
explain: G-actin
- single actin monomer
- 4 structural domains w/ a large cleft between 2 and 4
- cleft forms ATP-nucleotide binding site
- each actin = polar, so microfilaments of these subunits = also polar
- ATP-binding pocket = pointed to minus-end of polymer
⤷ so binding pocket isn’t exposed, except for 1 pair right at minus-end
explain: polymerization and depolymerization of F-actin (+ role of ATP)
- F-actin = formed from polymerization of G-actin
- actin = constantly going polymerization and depolymerization
⤷ at both ends but more growth at plus and more shrinkage at minus - regulated by ATP binding
- ATP bound actin can join plus end when Actin-ATP is high enough
- acting has intrinsic ATPase -> hydrolyzes ATP
⤷ so most of actin is covered in ADP - ADP not released bc nucleotide binding sites = covered in actin
- rate of polymerization = faster than rate of depolymerization FOR PLUS END
- rate of depoly. = faster than rate of poly. FOR MINUS END
⤷ Actin-ADP comes of minus end more readily
question: what is critical concentration (actin)?
- rate of actin monomer addition is equal to rate of removal
- no net growth
- if conc. of actin monomers > critical conc. = poly. > depoly. = growth (vv for shrinkage)
- critical conc. and working conc. are diff. at each end of the actin
question: what regulates the rates of actin growth in the cell (poly., depoly., critical conc.)?
- prot. assoc. w/ dynamics of actin poly./depoly/
- ex. profilin binds to Actin-ATP
⤷ promotes ATP binding
⤷ activates monomer
⤷ dimers accumulates at plus end -> increases conc. of actin monomers - ex. thymosin binds to actin monomers
⤷ inhibits polymerization
⤷ dimers accumulate at plus end -> create a buffer of stored actin monomers
⤷ caps prot. on ends of actin to inhibit poly. or depoly.
explain: treadmilling
- no net increase in length of actin filament bc poly. rate at plus end = depoly. rate at minus end
- no change in length but position changes
- filament moves forward
- important process for cell mvt. and migration
question: how does actin power the mvt. of cells?
- reorganizing actin filaments that can push out of cell mem.
- formation of filopodia and lamellipodia in migrating cell
STEPS
1. forming leading edge of cell
⤷ part closest in direction of mvt.
2. forming lamellipodia
⤷ fan-like expansions of mem.
3. forming filopodia
⤷ w/in region where lamellipodia formed
⤷ finger like projections
4. mvt. of cell forward
explain: myosin prot. (general types, func.)
- move along actin + power intracellular cargo trafficking
- myosin I, II, V in almost all euk.
- all have head domain at N-term.
⤷ has actin binding site
⤷ has site that binds + hydrolyzes ATP - heads = same but tails = diff.
⤷ bc carry diff. cargos at diff. rates - most move towards plus end of actin
explain: myosin II (struc., func.)
- 2 heavy chains form coiled-coil motif + 4 light chains
- phosphorylating light chains drive poly. of myosin prot. -> initiates extension of myosin tails + activates acting binding domains on head
⤷ gets phosphorylated by myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) - myosin II doesn’t carry cargo
- func. = generates contraction forces
- 15 - 20 myosin II filaments -> forms myosin II thick filament (a bipolar filament)
question: what is the struc. of a sarcomere (how are things attached together)?
- myosin II filaments + actin = sarcomeres
⤷ forms striated musc. - plus ends of actin on z-disks
- capping prot. cap the ends
⤷ tropomodulin at minus
⤷ CapZ at plus - nebulin binds the parallel actins
⤷ myosin thick filaments in between - myosin attached to z-disk by titin
question: how does a sarcomere do musc. contraction and relaxation?
- contraction = myosin heads bind to actin
⤷ pulls actin closer to mulled -> shortens sarcomere -> contraction - myosin heads cycle through ATP binding and ATP hydrolysis to power myosin mvt. along actin
- process = calcium dep.
- relaxation = myosin dissociates
⤷ elongates sarcomere - Ca dissociates from actin -> myosin releases actin
explain: energy used to power musc. contraction
- converting chem. E into mech. E
- conversion = mediated by myosin
⤷ myosin has conformational changes (mech. cycle) regulated by ATP binding and hydrolysis (chem. cycle)
explain: cycle of E in a musc. relaxation + contraction
- myosin attached to actin
- ATP binds to myosin -> releases actin
- ATP hydrolyzed by myosin head -> conformational change
- change in myosin = returns to relaxed conformation
- phosphate from break down of ATP increases affinity of myosin head for actin
⤷ allows binding again - release of ADP from myosin -> conformational change
- change pulls actin forward
- returns to step 1 again
explain: myosin V (struc., func.)
- powers intracellular trafficking of cargo along actin
- ex. mvt. of pigment filled vesicles (melanosomes, hold melanin)
⤷ melanocytes in epidermis connect to keratinocytes
⤷ distributes pigment to help protect cell DNA from UV damage - myosin V helps distribute melanosomes to cell mem.
- cargo carrying -> move in hand-over-hand fashion
⤷ trailing myosin head detaches and moved in front of leading (like it’s walking)
question: what would happen w/ a loss of func. mutation in myosin V?
- leads to dilute phenotype
- in animals
- pigment isn’t distributed into fur -> diluted colour
question: what methods can be used to study myosin mvt.?
- studied in vitro
- fluorescently labelled actin + myosin + ATP
- see chem. cycle + mech. cycle of myosin mvt. (involving hydrolysis of ATP)