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    62 views39 pages

    Cytoskeleton 13.4.20

    Uploaded by

    Nikhil

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    of 39

    Cytoskeleton

    Eucaryotic cells contain protein fibers that are involved in


    Function
    structural support
    maintains shape of cell
    provides anchorage for organelles
    motility
    cell locomotion
    cilia, flagella, etc.
    regulation
    organizes structures &
    activities of cell
    In addition, a large number of accessory proteins, including the motor proteins,
    are required for the properties associated with each of these filaments

    Each type of filament has distinct mechanical properties and dynamics, but
    certain fundamental principles are common to all.
    Cytoskeleton Structure

    network of fibers extending throughout cytoplasm

    3 main protein fibers

    Microtubules

    Microfilaments

    intermediate filaments
    Evolutionary perspective

    Proteins that make up the fibers are very similar in all


    living things

    from bacteria to humans

    tubulin (all cells)


    actin (eukaryote cells)

    Means that they are both ancient and essential for life
    There are three main types of fibers in the
    cytoskeleton:

    1. Microfilaments (actin filament: 5-9 nm),


    2. Microtubules (25 nm diameter),
    3. Intermediate filaments (10 nm).
    Microfilaments

    Some functions of actin filaments are:


    - to provide mechanical strength to the cell by forming a band under the plasma membrane
    - link transmembrane proteins to cytoplasmic proteins
    - form contractile ring during cytokinesis in animal cells
    - cytoplasmic streaming
    - generate locomotion in cells such as white blood cells and amoeba
    - Interact with myosin to provide force of muscular contraction
    Microtubules participate in a wide variety of cell activities. Most involve motion that
    is provided by protein “motors” that use ATP. They determine the positions of
    membrane-enclosed organelles and direct intracellular transport. The migration of
    chromosomes during mitosis and meiosis takes place on microtubules that make up
    the spindle fibers.
    Intermediate filaments provide mechanical strength and resistance to shear stress.
    There are several types of intermediate filaments, each constructed from one or
    more proteins characteristic of it.

    Keratins are found in epithelial cells, hair and nails


    Nuclear lamins form a meshwork that stabilizes the inner nuclear membrane
    Neurofilaments strengthen the long axons of neurons
    Vimentins provide mechanical strength to muscle and other cells
    Microfilaments
    Molecular structure of actin

    G-actin F-actin

    ( Garland Science Molecular Biology of the Cell 2008)


    Microfilament

    Microfilaments – actin filaments.


    They are built from molecules of a globular protein – actin.
    Actin and accessory proteins

    Molecular Biology of the Cell (© Garland Science 2008)


    Actin binding proteins (ABPs)

    3 groups:

     banding and cross linking proteins


     regulatory proteins: Organisation of
    polymerization/depolymerization, actin filaments
    severing proteins,capping proteins

     Motor proteins
    - sliding on MF (myosin) Sliding
    Cross-linking proteins I.

    Contractile bundle Parallel bundle

    Molecular Biology of the Cell (© Garland Science 2008)


    Actin and muscle movements
    • In muscle cells, thousands of actin filaments are arranged parallel to
    one another.
    • Thicker filaments, composed of a motor protein, myosin, interdigitate
    with the thinner actin fibers.
    – Myosin molecules walk along the actin filament, pulling stacks of
    actin fibers together and shortening the cell.
    Microtubules
    An a,b-tubulin heterodimer is the basic structural unit of microtubules. The
    heterodimer does not come apart, once formed. The a and b tubulins, which
    are each about 55 kDa MW, are homologous but not identical. Each has a
    nucleotide binding site. a-Tubulin has a bound molecule of GTP, that does not
    hydrolyze. b-Tubulin may have bound GTP or GDP.

    A microtubule is a hollow cylinder about 25 nm in diameter. Along the


    microtubule axis, tubulin heterodimers are joined end-to-end to
    form protofilaments, with alternating a & b subunits. Staggered assembly
    of 13 protofilaments yields a helical arrangement of tubulin heterodimers in
    the cylinder wall.

    GTP must be bound to both a and b subunits for a tubulin heterodimer to


    associate with other heterodimers to form a protofilament or microtubule.
    Microtubules
    The structure of a microtubule and its subunit

    The tubulin subunits assemble head-to-tail to create polar filaments


    Figure 1. Conventional kinesin motor proteins translocate along the microtubules in the positive
    direction, while the dynein motors step along the microtubules in the opposite direction.
    kinesin

    - +
    dynein
    cAMP cAMP

    pigment cells
    Microtubular systems in the cells

    -Centrosome Interphase cell

    centrosome
    -Cilia / flagellum
    Cilla

    Basal body

    Dividing cell spindle

    -Mitotic system

    Neuron
    centrosome

    - Vesicular transport axon


    • Microtubules of mitotic spindle and kinetochore
    How motor proteins can organise the position of cell
    organelles (ER, Golgi) ?

    (Hirokawa, N. Science 1998, 279:519


    Cilia and Flagella
    Role of the dynein arms in beating cilia

    Telescopic effect Beating


    • Intermediate filaments
    Structure of an intermediate filaments
    Monomer

    Parallel dimer

    Antiparallel
    tetramer

    Protofilaments

    Intermedaite
    filaments

    Molecular Biology of the Cell (© Garland Science 2008)


    Mechanical characterization of cytoskeleton components

    intermedier filament
    i.e. vimentin
    microtubule
    deformation

    = rupture

    actin filament

    force
    Role of intermedier filaments

    Buffer against external mechanical stress

    Tissue specificity !!!

    Epithel – keratin
    Vimentin
    Connective tissue
    Muscles
    Neuroglia
    } vimentin-like
    Desmin
    Glial protein

    Neurones(axon) - neurofilaments

    Exception:
    Nucleus – lamines (A,B,C) →(lamina fibrosa)

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