Microtubules Actin Filaments Intermediate Filaments

Size 25 nm 7-8 nm 10 nm
Composition Tubulin (α and β subunits form Globular actin monomers Heterogeneous
heterodimers arranged as Globular (G) actin binds ATP and Intermediate fibrous proteins
protofilaments) polymerizes into flexible actin
13 protofilaments in a microtubule wall microfilaments (F actin)
Picture SHAPE \* MERGEFORMAT

Fibrous molecules with conserved α helical

Function ° Provide rigidity and maintain cell
shape
° Regulate intracellular movement
of organelles and vesicles
° Establish intracellular
compartments
° Ciliary/flagellar motion
° Mitotic spindle: mitosis
(chromosome segregation)
Polarity? (different Yes
assembly rates of plus and Treadmilling
minus ends)
° Support/organize cell membrane
° Form and stabilize cells processes
° Cell movement
° Distribution of components at the
cell surface
° Regulation of cytoplasmic fluidity
(actin gel due to orthogonal cross-
linking)
Yes  treadmilling  migrating cells
(locomotion), phagocytosis
rod domains that provide for charge bonding
of subunits into dimers and tetramers.
° Cradle nucleus
° Provides mechanical strength to cells 
most concentrated in cells under
mechanical stress
° Nuclear envelope structure
No
NOT dynamic  very stable
Unique features Treadmilling
Dynamic instability (assembly and
disassembly is regulated locally by
[GTP]
Microtubule Organizing Centers
° Centrioles in the centrosome 
organization of mitotic spindles (-
end of microtubules)
° Basal bodies (9 triplets) axoneme
(9+2)  cilia/flagella
° Microtubule Based Motility
° Dynein
° Kinesin
Clinical correlations Target of anti-cancer drugs due to their
role in cell division (mitotic spindle) 
taxol stabilizes microtubules
Cellular junctions
ATP cap favors stability of F actin
Actin Binding Proteins
° Regulation
° Severing
° Cross-linking
° Motor
Regulation proteins: thymosin β4,
profiling, tropomodulin, capping
protein)
Tight parallel bundles of
microfilaments form the cores of
microvilli
Toxic drugs
Cytochalasin disrupts F actin.
Phalloidin stabilizes F actin
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy:
genetic mutations eliminate/alter
dystrophin binding to cortical F actin
 repeated cell membrane ruptures
and muscle cell degeneration
Cell-Cell adherens junctions
Focal adhesion
Actin-myosin contraction
Major families
° Nuclear lamins
° Vimentin
° Desmin
° Glial fibrillary acidic protein
° Keratins
° Neurofilaments
Subunit phosphorylation and
dephosphorylation mediate assembly
and disassembly
Emery-Dreifuss Muscular dystrophy results
from a mutation of gene encoding lamins
A/C
Monospecific intermediate filament
antibodies for distinguishing derivation of
tumors
Epidermolysis bullosa simplex: genetically
defective keratin filaments in skin cells
renders them highly susceptible to
mechanical rupturing producing blistering of
the skin
Cell-cell desmosome junctions
Cell-matrix junctions