CYTOSKELETON:

Structures & Functions

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 OBJECTIVES
• Name and distinguish the three cytoskeletal
filaments in terms of their
§ Structures
§ Protein Subunits
§ Functions
• Describe the major classes of intermediate
filaments and relate these to their clinical
importance

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Cytoskeletal Filaments

Intermediate Filament

Microtubule

Actin filament
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4
Microfilaments

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Maintenance of Cell Shape

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Fig. 7.26 The shape of the
microvilli in this intestinal cell
are supported by microfilaments,
anchored to a network of
intermediate filaments.

Microfilaments (in microvilli)

Copyright © 2002 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings
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 Cell Motility

• Pseudopods of amoeba
Microfilaments (in cytoplasm & plasma membrane)
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 Cell Motility

Neutrophil
Microfilaments (in cytoplasm & plasma membrane)
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Organelles movement

Microfilaments (in cytoplasm) 10

 Muscle Contraction

Microfilaments/Actin (in muscle cells) 11

Cleavage Furrow Formation in Cell Division

Microfilaments (contractile ring) 12

Microtubules

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Maintenance of Cell Shape

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Cell Motility (Flagellum)

Microtubule (in flagellum) 15

Chromosomes Movements in Cell Division

Microtubule (in spindle fibers) 16

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Cell Motility (Cilia)

Microtubule (in cilia) 18

 Movement of Organelles

Move macromolecules & organelles around cell in directed manner

(intracellular motility)

Microtubule (as tracks) 19

Intermediate
filaments

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Maintenance of Cell Shape

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 Formation of Nuclear Lamina

• The nuclear lamina is a dense

(~30 to 100 nm thick) fibrillar
network inside the nucleus of
a eukaryotic cell. It is
composed of intermediate
filaments and membrane
associated proteins. Besides
providing mechanical support,
the nuclear lamina regulates
important cellular events such
as DNA replication and cell
division.

Intermediate filaments (deep to inner nuclear membrane) 22

 Anchorage of organelles

Intermediate filaments (in between the organelles) 23

CLINICAL CONSIDERATIONS
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 CLINICAL CONSIDERATIONS
• Tumor diagnosis is often based on immunochemical
identification of the intermediate filaments in the
tumor cells because the type of intermediate filament
present identifies the tissue from which the metastatic
cancer cells originated.
• For example, an undifferentiated tumor that has
metastasized to the bladder can be identified as a
carcinoma (of epithelial origin) if it stains
immunocytochemically in a histological section after
applying a cytokeratin antibody.
Gartner, L. et al (2011) Cell biology & histology. 6th edition
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 Major Classes of Intermediate
Filaments
• Keratin
• Vimentin-containing filaments
• Desmin + vimentin
• Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein + Vimentin
• Neurofilaments
• Lamina A,B,C

Gartner, L. et al (2011) Cell biology & histology26

 Major Classes of Intermediate Filaments

Protein Keratin
Location Epithelial cells

Function Structural support & tension-bearing role;

Enables cells to withstand the stress caused by
stretching;

Serves as immunological marker for tumors arising from

epithelia

Gartner, L. et al (2011) Cell biology & histology27

 Major Classes of Intermediate Filaments

Protein Vimentin-containing filaments

Location Fibroblasts, endothelial cells,
chondroblasts, & various
mesenchymal cells
Function Form a cage-like structure around nucleus; structural
support for cell.

Vimentin serves as an immunological marker for tumors

arising from connective tissues

Gartner, L. et al (2011) Cell biology & histology28

 Major Classes of Intermediate Filaments

Protein Desmin + vimentin

Location Skeletal, cardiac, smooth muscle

Function Forms a framework linking myofibril and myofilaments

Desmin serves as an immunological marker for tumors

arising from muscle

Gartner, L. et al (2011) Cell biology & histology29

 Major Classes of Intermediate Filaments

Protein Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein +

Vimentin
Location Astrocytes, Oligodendrocytes,
Schwann cells
Function Provides structural support

GFAP serves as an immunological marker for tumors

arising from glia

Gartner, L. et al (2011) Cell biology & histology30

 Major Classes of Intermediate Filaments

Protein Neurofilaments
Location Neurons

Function Provide support for axons & dendrites

Neurofilaments serve as immunological markers for

tumors of neuronal origin

Gartner, L. et al (2011) Cell biology & histology31

 Major Classes of Intermediate Filaments

Protein Lamina A, B, and C

Location Nuclear lamina of all cells

Function Form a two-dimensional meshwork lining the inner

surface of the inner nuclear membrane;

Organize peripheral nuclear chromatin

Gartner, L. et al (2011) Cell biology & histology32

 Intermediate Filament Proteins
Type Protein Size Site of Expression

I Acidic keratins (11 proteins) 40-60 Epithelial cells

II Neutral or basic keratins (8 proteins) 50-70 Epithelial cells

III Vimentin 54 Fibroblasts, white blood cells, &

other cell types
Desmin 53 Muscle cells
Glial fibrillary acidic protein 51 Glial cells
Peripherin 57 Peripheral neurons
IV Neurofilament proteins
NF-L 67 Neurons
NF-M 150 Neurons
NF-H 200 Neurons
α-internexin 66 Neurons
V Nuclear lamins 60-75 Nuclear lamina of all cell types
VI Nestin 200 Stem cells especially of the
central nervous system
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th
Cooper, M. & Hausman, R. (2009). The cell: a molecular approach. 5 Edition
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Main Functions Microtubules Microfilaments Intermediate
(Actin Filaments) Filaments
Maintenance of cell shape / / /
(compression-resting (tension-bearing (tension-bearing
“girders” elements) elements)

Cell motility / /
(as in cilia or flagella) (as in pseudopodia)

Chromosome movements in /
cell division
Organelle movements /
Muscle contraction /
Cytoplasmic streaming /
Cell division /
(cleavage furrow formation)
Anchorage of nucleus & /
certain other organelles
Formation of nuclear lamina /
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