Cytoskeleton

Providing structural support to the

cell, the cytoskeleton also functions
in cell motility and regulation
a- Micro filament; b- Micro tubule; c- Intermediary filament; d- Composite
 Structural Support
• Mechanical support
– Maintains shape- resists forces that tend to deform a cell
• Provides anchorage for organelles – especially in polarized
epithelial cells
• Transport of materials – mRNA movement, peroxisomal
transfer, vesicle traffic etc.,
• Force generating apparatus- Cilia and flagella in unicellular
organisms and various cell types in multicellulars too. –
Blood cell, sperm, fibroblast, axons
• Cell division machinery
• Dynamic
– Dismantles in one spot and reassembles in another to change
cell shape
Main components of the eukaryotic cytoskeleton
Microfilaments:
 actin- Two strand structure
7nm

Microtubules: Tube like

 tubulins (a, b)
25 nm

Intermediate filaments:- Rope like

 lamin
 cell specific prot. (e.g. vimentin)
8-12 nm

+ Associated proteins (e.g. motor proteins)

Cytoskeletal filaments are dynamic and adaptable
Microtubules in close association with
peroxisomes
• Microtubules - thickest fibers, are hollow rods about
25 microns in diameter.
– Constructed of the globular protein, tubulin, - a
and b types
• Move chromosomes during cell division.
• Function as tracks to guide motor proteins
carrying organelles to their destination.
 Molecular structure of tubulin dimers and microtubules

GTP

Molecular Biology of the Cell (© Garland Science 2008)

Microtubule organization

Drugs: Colchicine, colcemid

inhibits microtubule
polymerization
 Microtubule associated proteins (MAPs)

 Structural MAP-s Shape and polarity

- MT-assembly of the cell
-links to MF and to IF
(eg. tau, MAPs1 and MAPs2)

 Motor proteins
- sliding on MT
Vesicular transports
(e.g. kinesin and dynein family)

 Enzymes, signal molecules Assembly of molecules

- glycolytic enzymes
- kinases
Microtubule disassembly in Alzheimer’s disease
 Axonal transport

Movement of particles in axon

 Motor proteins
• Kinesins, Dyenins, (Move along microtubules)
Myosin (move along micro filaments)
• Convert chemical energy (ATP) to mechanical
energy- for movement
Structure of motor-proteins
assoc.
motor domain
polypeptides

motor
domain

„stalk”

„stalk”
assoc.
assoc.
polypeptides polypeptides

Kinesin Myozin Dynein

 Motor proteins

- +
heavy
chain

light chain
dynein
+
kinesin

?
 kinesin

- +
dynein
cAMP cAMP

pigment cells
 Kinesin

ADP ATP

ADP
ADP
ATP
ATP

ADP
ADP-Pi
 Microtubular systems in the cells

-Centrosome Interphase cell

centrosome
-Cilia / flagellum
Cilla

Basal body

Dividing cell spindle

-Mitotic system

Neuron
centrosome

- Vesicular transport axon

 Structure of cilia

tubulin
(13 ill. 11 protofilaments)

B A dynein-arms

nexin
 Flagellum
• Flagella are longer and are usually limited to just one or few
• the motor molecule
called dynein
• basal body identical
to centriole
• 9 doublets of outer
microtubules
• one doublet of inner
microtubule

By S.Kandhan ( M.tech) 1st year

 Cilium, cilia
• Short whip-like
“appendage”
– move material past
cell
– linings of trachea &
bronchi
• similar to flagellum
(longer) on sperm
cell

By S.Kandhan ( M.tech) 1st year

 Molecules composing the cilia

more than 250 types of molecules

 70% α and β tubulin

 dynein arms
- outer - 9 polypeptides - ATP-ase
- inner – composition varies
 radial spokes - 17 polypeptides
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJyUtbn0O5Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rqbmLiSkpk