GROUP # 5

M Nauman Yousaf BPD-02181028

Kamran Arif BPD-02181062
Hafiz Zaeem BPD-02181234
Ali Ahmad BPD-02181202
Arsal Munir BPD-02181204
Uzair Masood BPD-02181205
Hassaan Amjad BPD-02181191

2005-2006
• The cytoskeleton is unique to eukaryotic
cells. It is a dynamic three-dimensional
structure that fills the cytoplasm
• The cytoskeleton of a cell consists of a
network of tiny protein filaments and
tubules that extend throughout the
cytoplasm.
 The CYTOSKELETON serves the cell’s
structural framework.
 This structure acts both AS muscle
and skeleton for the cell.

Do you know HOW & WHY???

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Cytoskeleton
 Function
 structural support
 maintains shape of cell
 provides anchorage for organelles
 motility
 cell locomotion
 cilia, flagella, etc
 Organelle movement.
 regulation
 organizes structures &
activities of cell
2005-2006
 Cytoskeleton
 Structure
 network of fibers extending throughout cytoplasm
 3 main protein fibers
 microtubules
 microfilaments
 intermediate filaments

2005-2006
AP Biology 2005-2006
Evolutionary perspective
 Proteins that make up the fibers are very
similar in all living things
 from bacteria to humans
 tubulin (all cells)
 actin (eukaryote cells)
 Means that they both are
ancient and essential
for life

2005-2006
Main components of the eukaryotic cytoskeleton
Microfilaments:
 actin
7nm

Microtubules:
 tubulins (
25 nm

Intermediate filaments:
cell specific proteins like keratin, lamin
vimentin etc.
8-12 nm

+ Associated proteins
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(e.g. motor proteins)
 Microtubules
•They are the largest elements of the
cytoskeleton.
• All microtubules originate from the
microtubule-organizing center, the
centrosome in the cytoplasm, which
contains a pair of centrioles. In the
centrosome, the tubulin subunits
polymerize and radiate from the
centrioles in a starlike pattern
•from the center

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Microtubules
 Structure
 Thickest fibers
 Hollow rods about 25nm in

external diameter ( Luminal

diameter is 15 nm)
 Constructed of protein, tubulin

(composed of α&β tubulin

subunits)
 Grow or shrink as more tubulin

molecules are added or removed

2005-2006
Each protofilament
is formed due to
polymerization of
α and β tubulin
dimeric subunits
forming a hollow
cylindrical chain.

These
Subunits
Polymerize
Like this

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MTOC MicroTubule Organizing Center
i.e the centriole
•Microtubules organize in cetrioles due
to polymerization of tubulin subunits

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Microtubules
 Function
 structural support & cell movement
 move chromosomes during cell division
 centrioles
 tracks that guide motor proteins carrying organelles
to their destination
 motor proteins: myosin & dynein
 motility
 cilia
 flagella

2005-2006
Microtubules provide locomotory
PATHS to the organelles…

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 Centrioles
 In animal cells, pair of centrioles
organize microtubules guiding chromosomes in
cell division.
 Centrosome is an area in the cell where

microtubles are produced. The two centrioles

move to opposite ends of the nucleus, and from
each centrosome, microtubules grow into a
"spindle" which is responsible for separating
replicated chromosomes into the two daughter
cells in telophase.

AP Biology 2005-2006
Cilia & Flagella
 Structure
 Remember 9+2!
 9 pairs of

microtubules around
2 single microtubules
in center
 Bending of cilia &

flagella is driven by
motor protein
DYNEIN

 requires ATP
2005-2006
Cilia & flagella
 Extensions of eukaryotic cytoskeleton
 Cilia = numerous & short (hair-like)
 Flagella = 1-2/cell & longer (whip-like)
 move unicellular & small multicellular
organisms by propelling water past them
 cilia sweep mucus & debris from lungs

 flagellum of sperm cells propell them forwards,

Cilia
 Oar-like movement
 alternating active & recovery strokes
 generate force perpendicular to their axis
Flagella
 undulatory movement ( wave like)
 force generated parallel to flagellum’s axis
Microfilaments
 Structure
 Thinnest class of fibers
 Solid rods of CONTRACTILE

protein, actin
 Twisted double chain of globular

actin subunits
 About 5-7nm in diameter

 3-D network inside cell membrane

.
 Functions
 These structural proteins shape the cells, and are
involved in cell movement and movement of the
cytoplasmic organelles.
 The microfilaments are distributed throughout the
cells and are used as anchors at cell junctions.
 The actin microfilaments also form the structural
core of microvilli and the terminal web just
inferior to the plasma membrane.

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 Microfilaments can also carry out cellular
movements including gliding, contraction, and
cytokinesis.

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Cyclosis
•In muscle cells, the actin filaments fill the cells
and are associated with myosin proteins to induce
muscle contractions..

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Networks of Actin filaments are found in the cell which is the
meshwork of membrane-associated proteins that support and
strengthen the plasma membrane

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 Dynamic process
 actin filaments constantly form & dissolve
making the cytoplasm liquid or stiff during
movement
 movement of Amoeba
 cytoplasmic streaming in plant cells
 speeds distribution of materials

AP Biology 2005-2006
•In other cells, these actin-myosin aggregates are less
organized but still cause localized contraction.
•A contracting belt of microfilaments divides the
cytoplasm of animals cells during cell division.
•Localized contraction also drives amoeboid movement.
•Pseudopodia, cellular extensions, extend and
contract through the reversible assembly and
contraction of actin subunits into microfilaments

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Intermediate filaments
 Structure
 specialized for bearing tension
 cell specific proteins like keratin, lamin &
vimentin etc.
 intermediate in size (10 nm on
average)
 Function
 hold “things” in place inside cell
 more permanent fixtures of
cytoskeleton
 reinforce cell shape & fix organelle
location
 nucleus is held in place by a network of
intermediate filaments
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Intermediate Filaments
 Intermediate filaments are about 10 nm
diameter and provide tensile strength for the
cell.
 These are thicker than microfilaments, as their
name implies but thinner than microtubules.
 The intermediate filaments vary among cell
types and have specific distribution in
different cell types.
 Epithelial cells contain the intermediate filaments keratin.
 Vimentin plays a significant role in supporting and
anchoring the position of the organelles in the cytosol.
Vimentin is attached to the nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum
, and mitochondria, either laterally or
terminally.filaments . It is found in many mesenchymal
cells.

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 Desmin is one of the earliest protein markers for muscle
tissue in embryogenesis as it is detected in the somites
. Although it is present early in the development of muscle
cells, it is only expressed at low levels, and increases as
the cell nears terminal differentiation. Desmin filaments
are found in both smooth and striated muscles.
 Vimentin is present in higher amounts during
embryogenesis while desmin is present in higher amounts
after differentiation.
 This suggests that there may be some interaction between
the two in determining muscle cell differentiation. 

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• Neurofilaments (NF) are intermediate filaments found in the
cytoplasm of neurons. They are protein polymers measuring
approximately 10 nm in diameter and many micrometers in length.
Together with microtubules and microfilaments, they form the
neuronal cytoskeleton. They are believed to function primarily to
provide structural support for axons and to regulate axon
diameter. .
• Lamin intermediate filaments are found on the inner layer of the
nuclear membrane.

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•Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is a protein that is
encoded by the GFAP gene in humans.
•Glial fibrillary acidic protein is an intermediate
filament (IF) protein that is expressed by numerous cell
types of the central nervous system (CNS)
including astrocytes and ependymal cells. GFAP has also
been found to be expressed in glomeruli and peritubular
fibroblasts taken from rat kidneys Leydig cells of the testis
in both hamsters and humans.
Human keratinocytes, human osteocytes and chondrocytes 
and stellate cells of the pancreas and liver in rats.

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Fig. The shape of the
microvilli in this
intestinal cell are
supported by
microfilaments,
anchored to a network
of intermediate
filaments.

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Summary
• actin = red
 Microtubules • microtubule = green
 thickest • nuclei = blue
 cell structure & cell motility
 tubulin
 Microfilaments
 thinnest
 internal movements
within cell
 actin, myosin
 Intermediate filaments
 Intermediate structure
 more permanent fixtures
 keratin
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