cytoskeleton

fluorescence

ability of something to absorb one wavelength of light and release another.

fluorescent microscope

light enters from a filter which only lets in certain wavelengths of light. then it goes through the beam splitting mirror which reflects low wavelengths’ of light and lets higher wavelengths transmit. then it goes through the object lense bounces off the object and then goes back through the beam splitting mirror since it is a higher wavelength now. finally it goes through one last filter to get any remaining unwanted light out before it goes into the eye/ camera

cytoskeleton

forms the frame of the cell. determine the cells shape, moves things and more

Actin

polymer protein responsible for a lot of the structure and function of the cytoskeleton.

G-actin

small subunits which bind together to form f-actin

F-actin

polymer of g-actin. g actin bind to one end and detach from the other. f-actin is polarized.

treadmilling

when an f-actin filament stays the same length due to equal addition and subtraction of G-actin. 

myosin

proteins with tails and heads that walk along actin in order to move things

intermediate filaments

long sheets of bound proteins that add stretch to cells.

microtubule

long cylinder made up of tubulin heterodimer bound to GDP or GTP. they help with transport cell structure and cell division. can be regulated allowing them to rapidly expand and retract.

kinesians

proteins that walk down microtubules towards the positive end. 

dinesea’s

proteins that walk down microtubules towards the negative end.

affinity chromatography

you wash cell lysate through a burrete with beads that have molecules that bind specific proteins in order to isolate your proteins of interest.

pyrene actin assay

the use of fluorescence to monitor actin assay.