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Cytoskeleton

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The cytoskeleton is a structure that contains a complex microscopic network of protein, which comprises the cytoskeleton with 3 primary types of fibers, actin filaments which are commonly known as microfilaments, intermediate filaments and tubules (also called microtubules). Microfilaments are the thinnest/finest of all the filaments and are about 3-6 nm in diameter. Microfilaments are composed of contractile globular protein known as actin. They are also responsible for movement as it is associated with myosin which is a protein responsible for muscle contraction. Intermediate filaments are mid-sized proteins as the name suggests usually measuring 8-12nm in diameter. These filaments are constructed from a number of different subunit proteins namely desmins, keratins, laminins and vimentin. Intermediate filaments play a structural role by providing strength to cells and tissues instead of cell motility. Tubulin proteins have a cylindrical shape, comprising alpha and beta subunits polymerized into microtubules. …show more content…

Furthermore FtsZ also demonstrates GTP-dependent filament formation just as tubulin does.
MreB is a bacterial protein that is believed to be analogous to actin found in eukaryotic cells. This protein is mainly found in non-spherical bacteria which assist in shape determination. Unlike FtsZ and tubulin similarity, MreB and actin have a weak primary structure similarity, but relatively high similarity in terms of 3-dimensional structure and polymerization of filaments.
Just as actin is related to MreB and tubulin to FtsZ, intermediate filament in eukaryotic cells have a homologue known as crescentin. Crescentin was found in an aquatic bacterium recently and just like intermediate filaments, this protein is organized into filaments in a helical structure. Furthermore the primary homology is higher together with the 3-dimensional structure

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