Cytoskeleton of a cell??

Question

Hi,

Can anyone tell me the main components of the cytoskeleton and their main functions.

THANX!!!

Answer 1

The cytoskeleton consists of the following components: microtubules, actin filaments, and intermediate filaments.

Answer 2

hi the main component of cytoskeleton is proteins that support the cell ,hold organelles in place,and enable the cell to change shape. The cytoskeleton consists of microtubles, microfilaments, and intermediate filaments.

Answer 3

The cytoskeleton is a cellular "scaffolding" or "skeleton" contained, as all other organelles, within the cytoplasm. It is contained in all eukaryotic cells and recent research has shown it can be present in prokaryotic cells too. It is a dynamic structure that maintains cell shape, enables some cell motion (using structures such as flagella and cilia), and plays important roles in both intra-cellular transport (the movement of vesicles and organelles, for example) and cellular division.

1 Parts of the eukaryotic cytoskeleton
1.1 Actin filaments
1.2 Intermediate filaments
1.3 Microtubules

2 Parts of the prokaryotic cytoskeleton
2.1 FtsZ
2.2 MreB and ParM
2.3 Crescentin

Functions of the component parts of the eukaryotic cells

Actin filaments
Around 7 nm in diameter, this filament is composed of two actin chains oriented in an helicoidal shape. They are mostly concentrated just beneath the plasma membrane, as they keep cellular shape, form cytoplasmatic protuberances (like pseudopodia and microvilli), and participate in some cell-to-cell or cell-to-matrix junctions and in the transduction of signals. They are also important for cytokinesis and, along with myosin, muscular contraction. Actin/Myosin interactions also help induce Cytoplasmic Streaming in most cells.


Intermediate filaments


These filaments, 8 to 11 nanometers in diameter, are the more stable (strongly bound) than actin filaments, and heterogeneous constituents of the cytoskeleton. They organize the internal tridimensional structure of the cell (they are structural components of the nuclear envelope or the sarcomeres for example). They also participate in some cell-cell and cell-matrix junctions.

Different intermediate filaments are:

made of vimentins, being the common structural support of many cells.
made of keratin, found in skin cells, hair and nails.
neurofilaments of neural cells.
made of lamin, giving structural support to the nuclear envelope.

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Microtubules in a gel fixated cell.

They are hollow cylinders of about 25 nm, formed by 13 protofilaments which, in turn, are polymers of alpha and beta tubulin. They have a very dynamic behaviour, binding GTP for polymerization. They are organized by the centrosome.

They play key roles in:

intracellular transport (associated with dyneins and kinesins they transport organelles like mitochondria or vesicles).
the axoneme of cilia and flagella.
the mitotic spindle.
synthesis of the cell wall in plants.

Answer 4

Hi

There are 3 main types of cytoskeleon, microfilaments, intermediate filaments and microtubules. They allow cells to maintain/change their shape, the movement of organelles and others to contract e.g muscle tissue.

Microfilaments consist of 2 strings of actin twisted together the core of the actin filaments allows structures to maintain their shape.

Intermediate filaments are common in nerve and neurological cells where they form tough supporting meshwork in the cytoplasm.

Microtubules originate from the centrosome and are found at sites where structures in cells are moved e.g in nerve fibres. Attachment proteins can attach to organelles and move them along microtubules e.g the movement of chromosomes along spindle fibre.

Answer 5

The three main components are microfilaments, intermediate filaments, and microtubules

*microfilaments-carry out cellular movements including gliding, contraction, and cytokinesis.

* Intermediate filaments-They may stabilize organelles, like the nucleus, or they may be involved in specialized junctions

*Microtubules-They move vesicles, granules, organelles like mitochondria, and chromosomes via special attachment proteins

Answer 6

Microtubules and microfiliments give the cell support and help transport organelles and cells