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WHAT IS THE CYTOSKELETON?
• The cytoskeleton is a network of protein fibers
within a cell, that crisscross the cytoplasm of all
eukaryotic cells. The cytoskeleton is a very dynamic
system that is constantly assembling and dissembling.
It is similar to a spider-web in the way it looks,
intertwines parts of a cell, and for its durability.
• Both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells contain
cytoskeleton, but it is found more dominantly in
eukaryotic cells such as humans and animals.
EXAMPLES OF CYTOSKELETON
UNDER A MICROSCOPE!
WHAT DOES A CYTOSKELETON
CONSIST OF?
• Cytoskeleton consists of individual fibers of
polymers that are identical protein subunits
that evidently attract one another and
assemble into long chains or tubes.
• There are three chains of fiber that make up
the anatomy of an organisms cytoskeleton…
1 0F 3 FIBERS THAT COMPOSE
CYTOSKELETON
(1)Actin Filament
They are sometimes called Microfilaments and come from
the Actin molecule. Actin Filaments are long fibers about 7nm
in diameter. Each one is composed of two protein chains
loosely twined together. The actin filaments are polar,
meaning they have positive and negative ends. These filaments
are responsible for cellular movements such as contractions,
crawling, and cell division.
2 OF 3 FIBERS THAT COMPOSE
CYTOSKELETON
(2) Microtubules
• The second chain that makes up cytoskeleton is composed of
microtubules. This is the largest of the cytoskeletal
elements. Microtubules are hollow tubes that are about 25
nm in diameter and each are composed of 13 total protein
filaments. They are also polar. Microtubules also help to
promote cellular movement, but mostly they work to
organize the cytoplasm of a cell. Otherwise, their major
responsibility is to move materials with the cell itself.
3 0F 3 FIBERS THAT COMPOSE
CYTOSKELETON
(3) Intermediate Filament
• The third and most durable of the elements that compose
the cytoskeleton is the intermediate filaments. In animal
cells, the intermediate filament is a system of tough,
fibrous protein molecules that are twined together in an
overlapping arrangement. Usually, they are about 8 to 10
nm in diameter which is between the size of the actin
filament and microtubule. Once composed, these filaments
are responsible for providing structural stability.
FUNCTIONS OF THE
CYTOSKELETON
Although each filament that ultimately
comprises cytoskeleton has a specific
function, the overall function of a cells
cytoskeleton is to shape a cell and
provide movement within a cell. The way
cytoskeleton is distributed throughout
the cell, a “scaffold” type structure
forms to anchor certain enzymes and
macromolecules within the cytoplasm.
Having cytoskeleton is crucial to a cell
because although it is just a small part of
its Anatomy, without it, a cell would
have very little movement. The cell would
not have a substantial amount of support
and would lack organization. In both
prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells,
cytoskeleton is responsible for cell shape,
DNA segregation, and cell division.
WOULD THERE BE
LIFE WITHOUT
CYTOSKELETON…?
The answer is most likely
no. Without cytoskeleton,
a cell would become
defective. It is imperative
to a cells growth and
development to contain
cytoskeleton. Cytoskeleton
is a skeletal like structure
that cells rely on to
provide functions for most
developmental activities.
CYTOSKELETON IS A VERY
IMPORTANT STRUCTURE IN THE
ANATOMY OF A CELL. WITHOUT IT, A
CELL WOULD NOT HAVE A CHANCE
TO FULLY DEVELOP AND WOULD
MOST LIKELY NOT SURVIVE OR
BECOME DEFECTIVE. ALTHOUTH
CYTOSKELETON MAY SEEM VERY
DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND WITH ITS
MULTIPLE PROTEIN FILAMENTS AND
FIBERS, THE OVERALL PURPOSE IS
EASY TO COMPREHEND, AS IT CAN
SIMPLY BE THOUGHT OF AS A CELLS
“BACKBONE”.