Week 2 The Cytoskeleton Flashcards
What are the three types of fibre which extend through the cell?
Microfilament, intermediate filaments and microtubules
Explain what the cytoskeleton does?
Provides mechanical support to cells (not static), it is for the support and structure (can also change cell structure and shape)
How is the cytoskeleton involved in motility of cells?
What is GTP?
Guanosine TriPhosphate
Explain what motor proteins are and how they work?
Motor proteins convert chemical energy into mechanical energy via hydrolysis of ATP
In basic, what is cilia?
Membrane bound organelles in eukaryotic cells
How do motor proteins work?
They stimulate movement of the cilia and flagella which causes gripping of microtubules and movement of microfilaments causes muscle contraction
Picture vesicle and motor proteins
tube with vesicle on top (motor protein is ATP powered)
Picture the different types of fibre within a cell?
Remember RGB- RED (microfilaments), GREEN (microtubules) and BLUE (intermediate filaments)
Red small ball line, large green ball and blue cable
What is microfilaments made of and describe their main functions?
Microfilaments are made of actin and they are responsible for muscle contraction and cell motility
What is microfilaments diameter?
7nm
What is a microfilaments structure made of?
two interwinding strands of a polymer of actin
What is microtubules made of and describe their main functions?
Microtubules are made of Tubulin A and Tubulin B, hollow tubes of tubulin and main function is organelle movement and cell motility such as in cilia
What diameter are microtubules?
25nm with a 15nm lumen
What is intermediate filaments made of and describe their main functions?
They are proteins supercoiled to make larger cables (can be made of proteins such as fibrous keratin) and make the lamina as well the anchorage of the nucleus and certain organelles
