For fall 2017

3. In order to form a strong sheet of cells, epithelial cells are connected at structures called
desmosomes. Within each epithelial cell, the desmosomes are connected to
a) bundles of actin filaments held together by cross-linking proteins
b) a weblike network of actin filaments just under the plasma membrane
c) intermediate filaments
d) bundles of microtubules
e) the endoplasmic reticulum

18. The filaments of the cytoskeleton that have the smallest diameter are
a) actin filaments
b) microtubules
c) intermediate filaments
d) thick filaments in the sarcomere
e) the axonemal filaments found in cilia and flagella

36. The centrosome is

a) a microtubule-organizing center near the nucleus
b) an organelle specialized for Ca++ storage in muscle cells
c) the region where nuclear proteins are synthesized before import into the nucleus
d) an organelle that stores aggregated molecules prior to secretion of the molecules in the
regulated secretory pathway
e) the region just under the plasma membrane that contains a network of filaments that
support the membrane and give the cell its shape

4. Microtubules are composed of

a) tubulin heterodimers arranged in a coiled-coil fiber
b) tubulin monomers linked together in a helical filament
c) tubulin heterodimers arranged head-to-tail in a protofilament
d) tubulin heterodimers arranged in thirteen protofilaments that are rolled into a hollow tube
e) tubulin monomers arranged in thirteen protofilaments that are rolled into a hollow tube

32. Growth of an existing microtubule in the cell is favored by

a) tubulin heterodimers containing ADP on the (+) end of the microtubule
b) tubulin heterodimers containing ATP on the (+) end of the microtubule
c) tubulin heterodimers containing GDP on the (+) end of the microtubule
d) tubulin heterodimers containing GTP on the (+) end of the microtubule
e) tubulin heterodimers containing γ-tubulin on the (+) end of the microtubule

8. Which of the following motor proteins walks toward the minus end of a microtubule?
a) myosin I
b) myosin II
c) dynein
d) most forms of kinesin
e) a and b
22. Actin is assembled into filaments that contain
a) a single strand of actin molecules joined head-to-tail
b) two strands of actin molecules twisted into a helix
c) 13 rows of actin molecules arranged in a hollow tube
d) alternating molecules of actin and myosin in a linear polymer
e) none of the above

11. Which of the following proteins form a complex that nucleates assembly of an actin filament
at the minus end, so that growth occurs rapidly from the (+) end? (Hint: these proteins can
also form a branch on an existing actin filament)
a) two ARPs (actin-related proteins)
b) myosin I
c) myosin V
d) kinesin I
e) a formin dimer

38. Actin filaments are found in which of the following eukaryotic structures?
a) a lamellipodium
b) the cell cortex
c) the contractile ring of dividing cells
d) microvilli
e) all of the above

34. During muscle contraction

a) the myosin filaments disassemble, bringing the actin filaments closer together
b) actin filaments slide past microtubules to decrease the length of the sarcomere
c) ATP hydrolysis causes actin filaments to disassemble, decreasing the length of the
sarcomere
d) myosin head domains walk from the minus end of actin filaments toward the plus end
e) GTP hydrolysis causes microtubules to disassemble due to dynamic instability

14. The power stroke that returns a myosin II head domain to a conformation in which myosin
is tightly bound to an actin filament (the rigor conformation) is tightly coupled to
a) conformational changes in the dynactin subunit
b) release of Pi from the catalytic site
c) binding ATP in the catalytic site
d) movement of the myosin head toward the minus end of the filament
e) phosphorylation of the lever arm of myosin II

4. Muscle contraction is triggered by calcium binding to

a) actin
b) troponin
c) dynein
d) myosin
e) tropomyosin
13. Which of the following is a very long, elastic protein that positions the thick filaments in the
sacromere, and also acts as a molecular spring, unfolding and refolding as the muscle fiber
recovers after stretching?
a) α-actinin
b) nebulin
c) Cap Z
d) tropomodulin
e) titin