BIOQUÍMICA E BIOLOGIA CELULAR

José Magalhães

Cytoskeleton

Faculdade de Desporto, Universidade do Porto, 1º Ciclo, 1º Ano

The cytoskeleton
The cytoskeleton

• The name is ambiguous. The cytoskeleton

is the skeleton of the cell, but it’s also like
the muscular system, able to change the
shape of cells in a flash, and organize
organelles distribution

• The three types of cytoskeleton protein

filaments are:

- Actin filaments (Ø ~ 5-9 nm)

- Intermediate filaments (Ø ~ 10 nm)

- Microtubules (Ø ~ 25 nm)
The cytoskeleton filaments
Microtubules molecular structure
Microtubules molecular structure

• Hollow long cylinders

made of the spherical
protein tubulin

• More rigid structures

than actin

• Straight tubes
generally with one end
in centrassome

• In constant
polymerization and
depolymerization
Microtubule dynamics
Microtubules selective stabilization
Microtubules motor proteins
Vesicle transport by motor proteins on microtubules
Cytoskeleton motor proteins

• Protein complexes that

function in motility

• Powered by ATP

• Attach to receptors on
organelles and cytoskeleton
elements
Intermediate filaments
Intermediate filaments

• Tough, insoluble protein fibers

with high tensile strength

• Resist pulling forces on the cell

and help form desmosomes

• Compose the nuclear lamina to

maintain nuclear shape
Adapted from “Biologia celular e molecular”, 3th edition, Lidel, 1999
Actin molecular structure
Actin molecular structure

• Two-stranded helical polymers of

the protein actin

• Flexible and dynamic structures

• Dispersed but highly localized

near the cortex to strengthens the
cell surface
Actin and the cellular membrane
Actin in skeletal muscle (longitudinal view)
Actin in skeletal muscle (tranversal view)