Cytoskeletal Systems Overview

Flashcards focused on key terms and definitions related to cytoskeletal systems, their proteins, and functions.

Microtubules

Cytoskeletal fibers important for transport, structural support, and shaping, composed of alpha-beta tubulin heterodimers.

Dynamic instability

The tendency of microtubules to undergo rapid cycles of growth (polymerization) and shrinkage (catastrophe).

Centrosome

The microtubule-organizing center in animal cells, typically consisting of two centrioles and pericentriolar material.

Kinesin

A type of motor protein that predominantly moves towards the plus end of microtubules, facilitating transport of cellular cargo.

Dynein

A motor protein that moves towards the minus end of microtubules, primarily transporting cargo towards the cell body.

Actin filaments

Cytoskeletal structures involved in cell movement, muscle contractions, and maintaining cell shape, composed of actin monomers.

Thymosin B4

An actin-binding protein that sequesters actin monomers, preventing filament formation.

Cofilin

An actin-binding protein that binds to ADP-actin and disassembles filamentous actin.

Profilin

A protein that enhances actin polymerization by facilitating the exchange of ADP for ATP on actin monomers.

Arp2/3 complex

A nucleation-promoting factor for actin filaments that forms branched networks and aids in cell motility.

Myosin

A family of motor proteins that interact with actin filaments to facilitate various cellular movements.

GFP

Green fluorescent protein used to visualize proteins in cells by tagging them for fluorescence under UV light.

Taxol

A drug that stabilizes microtubules and is used in cancer treatment by preventing the normal division of cells.

Nocodazole

A drug that destabilizes microtubules by preventing polymerization, used in experiments to study microtubule dynamics.

Critical concentration

The concentration of actin monomers required for actin filament elongation at either end.

Treadmilling

A process in actin dynamics where monomers are added to the plus end of the filament while simultaneously being lost from the minus end.

MAPs (Microtubule Associated Proteins)

Proteins that associate with microtubules and can stabilize or destabilize them.

Gamma-tubulin ring complex (y-TuRC)

A structure that nucleates microtubule formation by serving as a template for alpha-beta tubulin assembly.

MTOC (Microtubule Organizing Center)

Cellular structure that organizes microtubules, typically located near the nucleus.