BIO 3153 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Intermediate Filament, Tubulin, Treadmilling
29 Aug 2016
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Document Summary
Parts of the cytoskeleton are arranged/formed in smaller subunits. Tubulin is present as a dimer, actin is present as a monomer. This is important because it can disassemble and reassemble. Little monomers of actin, cell encounters a nutrient source or chemical cue, the formed actin filaments will be reduced to the actin subunits to be reassembled on the other side of the cell so the cell may respond. Rather than have a solid structure, the cytoskeleton is dynamic so the cell is able to respond to its environment. Stability: both actin and tubulin can assemble and disassemble as needed, little thermodynamic stability, but take many protofilaments and putting them side by side, provides stability to the core of the structure and can still maintain dynamics. Greater force required to snap in half, but may still remove a. Microtubules resemble cylinders: 13 protofilaments, formed first as a ring.
