Biology 2382B Lecture Notes - Colchicine, Paclitaxel, Microtubule Nucleation

• School: Western University
• Department: Biology
• Course: Biology 2382B
• Professor: Jessica Kelly

Document Summary

Cytoskeleton an intricate network of protein filaments that extend throughout the cytoplasm. The functions of these cytoskeletal components often require energy . A polymer of a and b tubulin : monomers 55kda each, have polarity (+/- ends) Hollow tubes 25 nm diameter and up to 100s of mm long (enough to cross cell) 1: ab dimer is the subunit (8nm in length) polymerize end to end to form the protofilaments, dimer & protofilamet both have polarity ends are different (i. e. one ends in a the other ends in . +/- side refers to the polarity and also the speed at which these sides will grow or polymerize at (+ end = - end = a : 13 protofilaments form a 25nm (diameter) hollow tube. 8nm length of dimer allows prediction of how things are moving based on the distance they move and the known size of the dimers.