CYTOSKELETON

WHAT IS THE CYTOSKELETON?• The cytoskeleton is a network of protein fibers within a cell, that crisscross the cytoplasm of all eukaryotic cells. The cytoskeleton is a very dynamic system that is constantly assembling and dissembling. It is similar to a spider-web in the way it looks, intertwines parts of a cell, and for its durability.• Both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells contain cytoskeleton, but it is found more dominantly in eukaryotic cells such as humans and animals.

EXAMPLES OF CYTOSKELETON UNDER A MICROSCOPE!

WHAT DOES A CYTOSKELETON CONSIST OF?

•Cytoskeleton consists of individual fibers of polymers that are identical protein subunits that evidently attract one another and assemble into long chains or tubes.•There are three chains of fiber that make up the anatomy of an organisms cytoskeleton…

1 0F 3 FIBERS THAT COMPOSE CYTOSKELETON

(1)Actin Filament

They are sometimes called Microfilaments and come from the Actin molecule. Actin Filaments are long fibers about 7nm in diameter. Each one is composed of two protein chains loosely twined together. The actin filaments are polar, meaning they have positive and negative ends. These filaments are responsible for cellular movements such as contractions, crawling, and cell division.

2 OF 3 FIBERS THAT COMPOSE CYTOSKELETON

(2) Microtubules

• The second chain that makes up cytoskeleton is composed of microtubules. This is the largest of the cytoskeletal elements. Microtubules are hollow tubes that are about 25 nm in diameter and each are composed of 13 total protein filaments. They are also polar. Microtubules also help to promote cellular movement, but mostly they work to organize the cytoplasm of a cell. Otherwise, their major responsibility is to move materials with the cell itself.

3 0F 3 FIBERS THAT COMPOSE CYTOSKELETON

(3) Intermediate Filament• The third and most durable of the elements that compose

the cytoskeleton is the intermediate filaments. In animal cells, the intermediate filament is a system of tough, fibrous protein molecules that are twined together in an overlapping arrangement. Usually, they are about 8 to 10 nm in diameter which is between the size of the actin filament and microtubule. Once composed, these filaments are responsible for providing structural stability.

FUNCTIONS OF THECYTOSKELETON

Although each filament that ultimately comprises cytoskeleton has a specific function, the overall function of a cells cytoskeleton is to shape a cell and provide movement within a cell. The way cytoskeleton is distributed throughout the cell, a “scaffold” type structure forms to anchor certain enzymes and macromolecules within the cytoplasm. Having cytoskeleton is crucial to a cell because although it is just a small part of its Anatomy, without it, a cell would have very little movement. The cell would not have a substantial amount of support and would lack organization. In both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, cytoskeleton is responsible for cell shape, DNA segregation, and cell division.

WOULD THERE BE LIFE WITHOUT CYTOSKELETON…?

The answer is most likely no. Without cytoskeleton, a cell would become defective. It is imperative to a cells growth and development to contain cytoskeleton. Cytoskeleton is a skeletal like structure that cells rely on to provide functions for most developmental activities.

CYTOSKELETON IS A VERY IMPORTANT STRUCTURE IN THE ANATOMY OF A CELL. WITHOUT IT, A CELL WOULD NOT HAVE A CHANCE TO FULLY DEVELOP AND WOULD MOST LIKELY NOT SURVIVE OR BECOME DEFECTIVE. ALTHOUTH CYTOSKELETON MAY SEEM VERY DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND WITH ITS MULTIPLE PROTEIN FILAMENTS AND FIBERS, THE OVERALL PURPOSE IS EASY TO COMPREHEND, AS IT CAN SIMPLY BE THOUGHT OF AS A CELLS “BACKBONE”.