Cytoskeleton

Dr. Dilip Kumar Yadav

Department of Biochemistry
THE CYTOSKELETON
THE SELF-ASSEMBLY AND DYNAMIC
STRUCTURE OF CYTOSKELETAL
FILAMENTS
HOW CELLS REGULATE THEIR
CYTOSKELETAL FILAMENTS
MOLECULAR MOTORS
THE CYTOSKELETON AND CELL
BEHAVIOR
Introduction
Cytoskeleton is required for mechanical work, including self-propulsion,
morphogenesis, cleavage, endocytosis, exocytosis, intracellular transport,
and changing cell shape in all cells
The cell cytoplasm is not a sac of fluid, as once thought
Essentially all eukaryotic cells contain three types of filamentous
structures:

ctin filaments (also known as microfilaments),

icrotubules, and

ntermediate filaments
Also provides anchorage for organelles
Are dynamic: Dismantles in one spot and reassembles in another to
change cell shape
The cytoskeleton is a network of fibers extending
throughout the cytoplasm.
The cytoskeleton
organizes the
structures and
activities of
the cell.
THE SELF-ASSEMBLY AND
DYNAMIC STRUCTURE OF
CYTOSKELETAL FILAMENTS
Nucleation Is the Rate-limiting Step in the Formation of a
Cytoskeletal Polymer
The Two Ends of a Microtubule and of an Actin Filament
Are Distinct and Grow at Different Rates
Filament Treadmilling and Dynamic Instability Are
Consequences of Nucleotide Hydrolysis by Tubulin and
Actin
Intermediate Filaments Impart Mechanical Stability to
Animal Cells
Filament Polymerization Can Be Altered by Drugs
Three Types of Cytoskeletal Filaments
Actin filaments (5-9 nm diameter)

ctin subunits

ocomotion, muscle contraction

Intermediate filaments (10 nm diameter)

arious coiled coil protein subunits

(lamins, vimentin, keratin)

tructural roles

Microtubules (25 nm diameter)

ubulin subunits

ntracellular transport
Nucleation Is the
Rate-limiting Step in
the Formation of a
Cytoskeletal
Polymer
Microtubule nucleation is
the event that initiates de
novo formation of
microtubules
The Two Ends
of
Microtubules
and Actin
Filaments Are
Distinct and
Grow at
Different
Rates
Filament Treadmilling and Dynamic
Instability Are Consequences of Nucleotide
Hydrolysis
Tubulin -
dynamic
instability
Intermedia
te
Filaments
Impart
Mechanical
Stability to
Animal
Cells
 Filament Polymerization Can Be
Altered by Drugs
TABLE 16–2 Drugs That Affect Actin Filaments and Microtubules
ACTIN-SPECIFIC DRUGS

halloidin binds and stabilizes filaments

ytochalasin caps filament plus ends

winholide severs filaments

atrunculin binds subunits and prevents their polymerization

MICROTUBULE-SPECIFIC DRUGS

axol binds and stabilizes microtubules

olchicine, colcemid binds subunits and prevents their polymerization

inblastine, vincristine binds subunits and prevents their polymerization

ocodazole binds subunits and prevents their polymerization

HOW CELLS REGULATE THEIR
CYTOSKELETAL FILAMENTS
Microtubules Are Nucleated by a Protein
Complex Containing -tubulin in the
Centrosomes of Animal Cells
Regulatory Proteins Bind to Free Subunits,
Filaments Sides and Filament Ends
Extracellular Signals Can Induce Major
Cytoskeletal Rearrangements
Microtubules Are Nucleated by a
Protein Complex Containing -
tubulin in the Centrosomes of
Animal Cells
Regulatory Proteins Bind to Free Subunits,
Filaments Sides and Filament Ends
Extracellular
Signals Can
Induce Major
Cytoskeletal
Rearrangemen
ts
MOLECULAR MOTORS
Actin-based Motor Proteins Are
Members of the Myosin Superfamily
There Are Two Types of Microtubule
Motor Proteins: Kinesins and Dyneins
Motor Proteins Generate Force by
Coupling ATP Hydrolysis to
Conformational Changes
Cilia and Flagella Are Motile
Structures Built from Microtubules
and Dyneins
Actin-based Motor Proteins Are
Members of the Myosin Superfamily
Myosin II is
the muscle
motor
Other myosins
have other
functions
There Are Two Types of Microtubule
Motor Proteins: Kinesins and Dyneins
Motor Proteins
Generate Force by
Coupling ATP
Hydrolysis to
Conformational
Changes
Different motors can run in
opposite directions
Cilia and Flagella Are Motile
Structures Built from
Microtubules and Dyneins
THE CYTOSKELETON
AND CELL BEHAVIOR
Mechanisms of Cell Polarization Can Be
Readily Analyzed in Yeast Cells
Directional Assembly Dictates the Direction of
Cell Migration
The Complex Morphological Specialization of
Neurons Depends on The Cytoskeleton
Mechanisms of Cell Polarization Can Be Readily
Analyzed in Yeast Cells
Signal transduction pathway
to polymerization
Directional Assembly Dictates the Direction
of Cell Migration
The Complex Morphological Specialization of
Neurons Depends on The Cytoskeleton