University:
California State University, Northridge
Course:
BIOL 100 | Introductory Biology
Academic year:

2021
Views:

52

Pages:

2
Author:

B. Coleman

ITOSKELETON The cytoskeleton or cell framework, is a part of the cell that has an important function in cell movement which will influence cell activity and metabolism both individually and if the cell is already in a tissue. For unicellular cells such as bacteria, most will have flagella as a means of mobility to support their movement to get food or to help with the reproduction process. Meanwhile, eukaryotic cells that are in a tissue will need to contract muscle cells, elongate nerve cells, protrude cell parts for various functions, and form and regulate the separation of cell parts during mitosis. In these various activities, movement by cells is required, which includes the division of chromosomes, cytosolic flow, and membrane transport of vesicles and macromolecules. The internal movement of cells is an important part for cell growth and development which requires a working mechanism from a part called the cytoskeleton, namely the fibers in the cell that help in the movement of the cell in question. The cytoskeleton also plays an important role in organizing cell structure and activity with the clearest function being to provide mechanical support to the cell and maintain its shape. The cytoskeleton helps and is involved in various types of cell movement which include changes in cell location and movement of more limited cell parts. This movement generally requires the interaction of the cytoskeleton with proteins called motor protein molecules, which also cause muscle cells to contract. An example is the movement of cilia and flagellates. The flow of cytoplasm that circulates material in many plant cells is a type of cellular movement caused by components of the cytoskeleton. All cytoskeleton filaments are long polymers of protein subunits. Cooperative regulation of the cytoskeleton system, together between polymers or independently, will control the shape of the cell. In many cells the presence of the cytoskeleton tends to be stable, but in other cells the shape will change continuously. Reduction of the cytoskeleton in some parts of the cell and also growth in other parts can cause changes in shape and produce movement in the cell. For example, a cell can send out a substance to the cell surface or to another cell and then withdraw the cell body from another cell at the end. Cells can move on average a distance of 20μm/sec. This transfer occurs when cells are in the embryonic development phase of multicellular organisms to form tissue and during the maturation process, including defending against infection, transporting nutrients, and also healing wounds. There are three types of filaments that make up the cytoskeleton which have unique characteristics and are distributed in cells. Three types of filaments make up the cytoskeleton: intermediate filaments, microtubules, and microfilaments.