Overview of Cell Biology/Evolution of the Cytoskeleton

Readings

• Study guide:
• Wikipedia article: The Cytoskeleton

The Cytoskeleton

The Cytoskeleton consists of several different systems called filamentous polymers:

Critical concentration (C_c): If concentration of monomer < C_c, no polymerization occurs. If concentration of monomer > C_c, polymerization occurs.

Some cytoskeletal polymers are polar and have structural directionality. Due to this directionality, proteins can be transported along the polymer.

Mutants

FtsZ^(-) mutants fail to undergo cytokinesis or cell division at restrictive temperatures

MreB^(-) mutants of normally rod shaped bacteria assume a spherical shape

CreS^(-) mutants of normally crescent shaped bacteria assume a rod shape

ParM^(-) mutants fail to segregate plasmids between daughter cells

See also

• Molecular evolution/Intermediate filament proteins