Cytoskeleton structure

These are extremely minute fibrous tubular structures.

These form supportive framework inside the cell.

Cytoplasmic structure are made-up of protein elements

These are found in eukaryotic cell and some blue-green alga.

They maintain the shape of the cell and its extension.

The distribution and orientation of organelles is regulated by

cytoskeleton.

cytoskeleton structure are of three types microfilament, intermediate

filaments and microtubule.

Microfilament:-

These are ultra microscopic long thin cylindrical rod.

These are protein filament which major about 6 to 10 nanometer in

diameter.

These are mainly composed of globular protein actin and have

association with filamentous protein myosin.

Myosin seems to be essential for contraction of microfilaments.

These are found in bundles and loose network.

They form extensive network in the cytoplasm.

Some micro filament associated with plasma membrane on its

cytoplasmic surface.

They also extend into cytoplasmic extensions like microvilli.

They prominently found in the muscle cells where it is also called as

myofilaments.
Functions :-

1) They Form part of cytoskeleton to support fluid matrix,

2) It cause muscle contraction,
3) It take part in formation and retraction of pseudopodia.
4) It change in plasma memb during exocytosis and endocytosis,
5) Micro villi are maintained through the support provided by
microfilament.
6) It is involved in cleavage of cytokinesis in animal call division.

Intermediate Filaments.

• These are supportive Filament of the cytoplasm.

• These are larger than microfilament,
• They measures about 10 nm in the diameter.
• It includes non motile structural proteins,
• E g. Keratin, desmin,

They are of

• 1) Keratin - its forms tonoFibrils and Keratin of skin,

• 2) Neurofilaments - it forms lattice with bundles of microtubules
in axon and dendron of nerve cells.
• 3) Gilial Filaments- found astrocytes,

Functions→

• Maintain the shape of the cell,

• It forms major structural protein of the skin.,
• It also forms structural protein of the hair.
• It provides Strength to the axon and dendron to the nerve cells.,

Microtubule →
• These are elongated unbranched cylindrical tubule.
• They undergo quick growth and degeneration.
• They are about 25nm in diameter with central lumes of 15nm in
diameter.
• The wall of the microtubule is composed of 13 proto filaments
and a helically arranged longitudinal strand.
• Alpha and beta proto filament alternately and spirally arranged.
• Micro-tubules occur singly and
and in bundles in cytoplasm.
• They radiate from centrioles to periphery.
• They form a skeleton of spindle apparatus , cilia, and flagella.
• A unique characteristic of microtubules is the ease with which
they can be broken down and reassembled in another part of the
cell ..

Functions

• Microtubules function as cytoskeleton and help the maintenance

of shape of the cell.
• They are constituents of spindle fibres, Chromosome fibres,
centrioles, basal bodies, flagella and cilia.
• Microtubules take part in the anaphasic movement of
chromosomes.
• The place of future cell plate formation is determined by a
microtubule band.