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Questions and Answers
What role do actin filaments and microtubules play in cellular transport?
What role do actin filaments and microtubules play in cellular transport?
They serve as tracks for the transport of organelles and vesicles within the cell.
How do motor proteins achieve movement along microtubules?
How do motor proteins achieve movement along microtubules?
Motor proteins, like kinesin and dynein, walk along microtubules by undergoing conformational changes driven by ATP binding and hydrolysis.
Describe the structural difference between dynein and kinesin motor proteins.
Describe the structural difference between dynein and kinesin motor proteins.
Dyneins typically walk towards the minus end of microtubules, while kinesins mostly walk towards the plus end.
What drives the walking mechanism of myosin motor proteins along actin filaments?
What drives the walking mechanism of myosin motor proteins along actin filaments?
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Explain why intermediate filaments do not have known motor proteins associated with them.
Explain why intermediate filaments do not have known motor proteins associated with them.
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What is the significance of motor proteins walking in a specific direction?
What is the significance of motor proteins walking in a specific direction?
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How do motor proteins like kinesin and dynein differ in their cargo transport direction?
How do motor proteins like kinesin and dynein differ in their cargo transport direction?
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What conformational changes occur in motor proteins to facilitate movement?
What conformational changes occur in motor proteins to facilitate movement?
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What roles do actin filaments and microtubules play in cellular transport mechanisms?
What roles do actin filaments and microtubules play in cellular transport mechanisms?
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Describe the function of bipolar myosin II filaments in muscle contraction.
Describe the function of bipolar myosin II filaments in muscle contraction.
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How does the gliding filament assay demonstrate motor protein mechanics?
How does the gliding filament assay demonstrate motor protein mechanics?
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Explain how motors can slide filaments rather than transport them.
Explain how motors can slide filaments rather than transport them.
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What is the significance of filament polarity in cellular transport?
What is the significance of filament polarity in cellular transport?
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Discuss the role of myosin II as a motor protein.
Discuss the role of myosin II as a motor protein.
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What happens when a motor walks towards the positive end of a filament?
What happens when a motor walks towards the positive end of a filament?
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How does the contraction of muscle fibers relate to actin and myosin interaction?
How does the contraction of muscle fibers relate to actin and myosin interaction?
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In what way do actin filaments provide structural support in cells?
In what way do actin filaments provide structural support in cells?
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What characteristic of actin filaments allows them to be highly dynamic?
What characteristic of actin filaments allows them to be highly dynamic?
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How are microtubules structured at a molecular level?
How are microtubules structured at a molecular level?
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What type of interactions hold the protofilaments together in microtubules?
What type of interactions hold the protofilaments together in microtubules?
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What feature distinguishes actin filaments from microtubules in terms of structure and appearance?
What feature distinguishes actin filaments from microtubules in terms of structure and appearance?
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Explain the importance of polarity in cytoskeletal filaments.
Explain the importance of polarity in cytoskeletal filaments.
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What role do nuclear lamins play in the cell?
What role do nuclear lamins play in the cell?
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Why are motor proteins essential for the function of microtubules?
Why are motor proteins essential for the function of microtubules?
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Describe how the structure of intermediate filaments differs from that of actin and microtubules.
Describe how the structure of intermediate filaments differs from that of actin and microtubules.
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What is the significance of the dynamic properties of actin and microtubules in cellular processes?
What is the significance of the dynamic properties of actin and microtubules in cellular processes?
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How do the interactions between subunits in actin filaments compare to that of microtubules?
How do the interactions between subunits in actin filaments compare to that of microtubules?
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What is the significance of the 'plus' and 'minus' ends in actin filaments and microtubules?
What is the significance of the 'plus' and 'minus' ends in actin filaments and microtubules?
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How does the experiment with 'seed' actin filaments demonstrate filament polarity?
How does the experiment with 'seed' actin filaments demonstrate filament polarity?
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In what way does microtubule polarity compare to that of actin filaments?
In what way does microtubule polarity compare to that of actin filaments?
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Why is filament polarity advantageous for motor proteins during cellular transport?
Why is filament polarity advantageous for motor proteins during cellular transport?
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Explain how the dynamic instability of microtubules is related to their polarity.
Explain how the dynamic instability of microtubules is related to their polarity.
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What are the primary structural components of intermediate filaments?
What are the primary structural components of intermediate filaments?
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How do actin filaments contribute to cellular movement?
How do actin filaments contribute to cellular movement?
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Describe the polarity of microtubules and its significance.
Describe the polarity of microtubules and its significance.
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What role do motor proteins play in cytoskeletal dynamics?
What role do motor proteins play in cytoskeletal dynamics?
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What influence does the organization of actin filaments have on the structure of the cell?
What influence does the organization of actin filaments have on the structure of the cell?
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How do intermediate filaments differ in type across various cell types?
How do intermediate filaments differ in type across various cell types?
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Which interactions are responsible for the high tensile strength of intermediate filaments?
Which interactions are responsible for the high tensile strength of intermediate filaments?
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In what way does keratin function in epithelial cells?
In what way does keratin function in epithelial cells?
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What pathological condition is related to mutations in keratin and what is its effect?
What pathological condition is related to mutations in keratin and what is its effect?
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Explain the role of desmosomes in the context of intermediate filaments.
Explain the role of desmosomes in the context of intermediate filaments.
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What are the primary functions of nuclear lamins in the cell?
What are the primary functions of nuclear lamins in the cell?
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What are the characteristics of the 'plus' and 'minus' ends of actin filaments?
What are the characteristics of the 'plus' and 'minus' ends of actin filaments?
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How do actin filament subunits assemble into their polymer structure?
How do actin filament subunits assemble into their polymer structure?
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How does the addition of actin to the pre-formed seed affect filament growth?
How does the addition of actin to the pre-formed seed affect filament growth?
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Describe the structural unit of microtubules and its formation.
Describe the structural unit of microtubules and its formation.
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What unique property do all three types of cytoskeletal filaments exhibit?
What unique property do all three types of cytoskeletal filaments exhibit?
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What similarity do microtubules share with actin filaments regarding their growth?
What similarity do microtubules share with actin filaments regarding their growth?
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In what way does the structure of intermediate filaments differ from microtubules and actin filaments?
In what way does the structure of intermediate filaments differ from microtubules and actin filaments?
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Why is filament polarity critical for cellular activity?
Why is filament polarity critical for cellular activity?
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What is the consequence of filament polarity on motor protein movement?
What is the consequence of filament polarity on motor protein movement?
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Explain the significance of intermediate filaments in relation to cell integrity.
Explain the significance of intermediate filaments in relation to cell integrity.
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What is the role of dynamic instability in microtubules?
What is the role of dynamic instability in microtubules?
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In the context of the seed experiment, what is the significance of the actin label?
In the context of the seed experiment, what is the significance of the actin label?
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Describe the pathological condition known as Progeria and its connection to nuclear lamins.
Describe the pathological condition known as Progeria and its connection to nuclear lamins.
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How do the dynamics of actin and microtubules differ in terms of growth rates at their ends?
How do the dynamics of actin and microtubules differ in terms of growth rates at their ends?
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What implications does the existence of a slower growing 'minus' end have on filament stability?
What implications does the existence of a slower growing 'minus' end have on filament stability?
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What role does the experimental seed play in understanding filament dynamics?
What role does the experimental seed play in understanding filament dynamics?
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Describe how filament polarity contributes to the function of the cytoskeleton.
Describe how filament polarity contributes to the function of the cytoskeleton.
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How do bipolar myosin II filaments contribute to the sliding filament mechanism in muscle contraction?
How do bipolar myosin II filaments contribute to the sliding filament mechanism in muscle contraction?
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What experimental technique can demonstrate how motors slide filaments, and what does it involve?
What experimental technique can demonstrate how motors slide filaments, and what does it involve?
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In the context of filament sliding, what happens when a motor walks towards the plus end of a filament?
In the context of filament sliding, what happens when a motor walks towards the plus end of a filament?
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Describe the structural characteristics of myosin II and their significance for its function.
Describe the structural characteristics of myosin II and their significance for its function.
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Explain the significance of filament polarity for motor protein function.
Explain the significance of filament polarity for motor protein function.
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What allows motor proteins to transport cargo to specific cellular locations?
What allows motor proteins to transport cargo to specific cellular locations?
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How do the head and tail domains of motor proteins function together?
How do the head and tail domains of motor proteins function together?
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What is the main energy source that drives the movement of motor proteins?
What is the main energy source that drives the movement of motor proteins?
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Describe the directional movement of dynein and kinesin motor proteins.
Describe the directional movement of dynein and kinesin motor proteins.
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What characterizes myosin motor proteins in terms of their movement pattern?
What characterizes myosin motor proteins in terms of their movement pattern?
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Why can't motor proteins walk on intermediate filaments?
Why can't motor proteins walk on intermediate filaments?
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What distinguishes the dynamic properties of the plus and minus ends of actin filaments?
What distinguishes the dynamic properties of the plus and minus ends of actin filaments?
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What results from the conformational changes in myosin during movement?
What results from the conformational changes in myosin during movement?
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How does the asymmetry of tubulin subunits contribute to the polarity of microtubules?
How does the asymmetry of tubulin subunits contribute to the polarity of microtubules?
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How do motor proteins impact the transport of organelles within a cell?
How do motor proteins impact the transport of organelles within a cell?
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Can you explain the role of ATP hydrolysis in the function of motor proteins?
Can you explain the role of ATP hydrolysis in the function of motor proteins?
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Why do intermediate filaments lack polarity, and how does this affect their function?
Why do intermediate filaments lack polarity, and how does this affect their function?
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What structural feature is common among many classes of motor proteins?
What structural feature is common among many classes of motor proteins?
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Describe how filament polarity influences motor protein movement.
Describe how filament polarity influences motor protein movement.
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What role does the structural difference between actin and microtubules play in cellular functions?
What role does the structural difference between actin and microtubules play in cellular functions?
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How does filament polarity contribute to the dynamic instability observed in microtubules?
How does filament polarity contribute to the dynamic instability observed in microtubules?
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Explain the significance of asymmetric subunits in the functioning of actin filaments.
Explain the significance of asymmetric subunits in the functioning of actin filaments.
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In what way does the polarity of actin and microtubules affect their interaction with motor proteins?
In what way does the polarity of actin and microtubules affect their interaction with motor proteins?
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Why is it essential for cellular structures to have polarized filaments such as actin and microtubules?
Why is it essential for cellular structures to have polarized filaments such as actin and microtubules?
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Discuss how the structural characteristics of actin and microtubules relate to their roles in cellular architecture.
Discuss how the structural characteristics of actin and microtubules relate to their roles in cellular architecture.
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Study Notes
Cytoskeletal Filament Systems
- Organized networks of polymers within cells involved in cellular structure and function.
The Three Major Cytoskeletal Systems in Eukaryotic Cells
- Intermediate filaments
- Actin filaments
- Microtubules
- All three are made up of subunits that combine to form polymers/filaments.
- Polymers are formed through non-covalent interactions (reversible protein-protein interactions).
Intermediate Filaments
- Named because they have an "intermediate" diameter between actin filaments and myosin filaments.
- Made of fibrous proteins.
- Flexible and have high tensile strength (can withstand stress)
- Found in the cytoplasm of most (not all) types of animal cells.
- Different types of cytoplasmic intermediate filaments vary by cell type.
- Nuclear lamins are found in all animal cells.
Intermediate Filament Subunit
- Two dimers arranged in an antiparallel fashion.
- Dimers stacked on top of each other, but slightly offset.
- N-termini stick out at each end.
Intermediate Filament Polymer Formation
- Monomers form parallel dimers.
- Dimers form antiparallel tetramers.
- 8 tetramers associate laterally (side-to-side).
- Groups of 8 tetramers associate end-to-end.
Intermediate Filament Properties
- Strong lateral interactions along the lengths of the subunits.
- Gives the filaments strong rope-like properties.
- Provide structural support to cells.
Types of Intermediate Filaments
- Keratin filaments (cytoplasmic)
- Nuclear lamins (nuclear intermediate filaments)
Cytoplasmic Intermediate Filaments - Example: Keratin Filaments
- Found within the cytoplasm of cells.
- Anchored to the plasma membrane to provide structure to cells.
- Linked to sites of connections with neighboring cells, called desmosomes.
- Linking cells mechanically couples them, giving structure to sheets of cells.
Nuclear Intermediate Filaments - Example: Nuclear Lamins
- Support and strengthen the nuclear membrane.
- Progeria, a premature aging disease, is caused by defects in a particular nuclear lamin protein.
- Give support to the cells themselves (cytoplasmic IFs) or the nucleus (nuclear lamins).
Actin Filaments
- Present in all eukaryotes.
- Highly dynamic - subunits can be added/removed from the ends.
- Subunit is a single copy of the protein actin.
Actin Filament Polymerization
- Monomers assemble into a two-stranded helix.
Microtubules
- Present in all eukaryotes.
- Hollow cylinders made of tubulin heterodimers.
- Highly dynamic.
Microtubule Subunit
- Each subunit is a dimer of -tubulin and -tubulin.
- Heterodimer is formed through non-covalent protein-protein interactions, but the two proteins are tightly bound and never come apart.
Microtubule Polymerization
- Each subunit is a heterodimer of -tubulin and -tubulin.
- heterodimers assemble into protofilaments.
- Lateral interactions between protofilaments form the tube (13 protofilaments in tube).
Summary: The Three Cytoskeletal Networks
- Filaments look different.
- Built from different types of subunits.
Actin Filament Polarity
- Has two distinct ends: a plus end and a minus end.
- The plus end grows faster than the minus end due to faster subunit addition.
Microtubule Polarity
- Also has a fast growing “plus” end and a slow growing “minus” end.
- The plus end grows longer than the minus end.
Introduction
- Skin is sensitive to damage and even light pressure can cause blistering.
Nuclear Intermediate Filaments
- Support and strengthen the nuclear membrane
- Progeria, a premature aging disease, is caused by defects in a specific nuclear lamin protein
- Normal lamin proteins have a normal nucleus shape
- Mutant lamin proteins have an irregular nucleus shape
Intermediate Filament Proteins
- Provide structural support for cells
- Cytoplasmic intermediate filaments (cytoplasmic IFs) are found in the cytoplasm
- Nuclear lamins are found in the nucleus
Actin Filaments
- Found in all eukaryotes
- Dynamic, subunits can be added or removed from the ends
- Composed of actin monomers, which assemble into a two-stranded helix
Microtubules
- Found in all eukaryotes
- Hollow cylinders composed of tubulin heterodimers
- Dynamic, subunits can be added or removed from the ends
- Composed of alpha-tubulin and beta-tubulin heterodimers, which form protofilaments
The Three Cytoskeletal Networks
- Different filaments have different structures
- They are built from different types of subunits
- Actin filaments and microtubules are polar, meaning the two ends of the filament are structurally different
- Intermediate filaments are non-polar, meaning the two ends of the filament are structurally the same
Actin and Microtubule Polarity
- The different ends of actin filaments and microtubules have distinct dynamic properties, referred to as "plus" (fast growing) and "minus" (slow growing) ends
Actin and Microtubule "Plus" and "Minus" Ends
- The plus end grows faster than the minus end
- The difference in growth rates is due to the asymmetric structure of the subunits that make up the filaments
Motor Proteins
- Motor proteins use ATP to walk along cytoskeletal filaments (actin and microtubules)
- Each class of motor protein walks in a specific direction
- This allows for directed transport of cellular components to specific locations within the cell
Microtubule Motor Proteins
- Dynein walks towards the minus end of microtubules
- Kinesin walks towards the plus end of microtubules
Actin Motor Proteins
- Myosins walk towards the plus end of actin filaments
- There are multiple classes of myosin motors that perform different cellular functions
Motor Functions
- Transport cellular components like vesicles and organelles
- Slide filaments relative to each other
Myosin II
- Dimer with two heads that walk on actin filaments
- Has a coiled-coil tail that allows multiple myosin II molecules to assemble into bipolar filaments
- These bipolar filaments can slide actin filaments relative to each other
Muscle Contraction
- Muscles contract by a sliding filament mechanism
- Myosin II heads walk towards the plus end of actin filaments, shortening the sarcomere, the contractile unit of muscle
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Description
Explore the organized networks of polymers known as cytoskeletal filament systems within eukaryotic cells. This quiz covers the three major cytoskeletal systems—intermediate filaments, actin filaments, and microtubules—along with their structural properties and functions in cellular integrity.