Becker's World of the Cell (9th Edition)
9th Edition
ISBN: 9780321934925
Author: Jeff Hardin, Gregory Paul Bertoni
Publisher: PEARSON
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Textbook Question
Chapter 13, Problem 13.2CC
The amount of dynamic instability exhibited by microtubules varies depending on the kind of cell and whether it is dividing. Under what circumstances might you expect dynamic instability to be greatest, and why?
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Chapter 13 Solutions
Becker's World of the Cell (9th Edition)
Ch. 13 - Cytoskeletal polymers are modular, and their...Ch. 13 - How could you use paclitaxel, which makes MTs less...Ch. 13 - The amount of dynamic instability exhibited by...Ch. 13 - Prob. 13.3CCCh. 13 - In which of the following cells would you expect...Ch. 13 - Filaments and Tubules. Indicate whether each of...Ch. 13 - True or False. Identify each of the following...Ch. 13 - Prob. 13.3PSCh. 13 - Stabilization and the Critical Concentration....Ch. 13 - Prob. 13.5PS
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- In the context of cell biology, what do we mean by form follows function? What are a least two examples of this concept?arrow_forwarda) Are actin filaments subject to the same "dynamic instability" as microtubules? Yes or no? b)Explain how both actin and microtubules polymerize and depolymerize.arrow_forwardThe enzyme katanin, named after the Japanese samurai swords, cleaves microtubules into short pieces. What is the fate of the microtubule fragments created by katanin (would they grow or shrink)? Why?arrow_forward
- In all cells, microtubules nucleate from the centrosome and then become stabilized or collapse. What feature of microtubules contributes to this phenomenon?arrow_forwardDescribe one instance when the polarity of microtubules is important in cell function.arrow_forwardBriefly describe the structure and function of each of the following: plasma membrane, chromatin, nucleus, nucleolus, rough endoplasmic reticulum (rough ER), Golgi complex, lysosomes, mitochondria, microfilaments, microtubules, intermediate filaments, centrioles, basal body (kinetosome), tight junction, gap junction, desmosome, glycoprotein, microvilli.arrow_forward
- Suppose cells in an experiment had been labeled with green fluorescent tubulin. At the onset of Anaphase B, you use your laser to bleach a stripe across all of the microtubules on one side of the spindle as shown by the dashed line. This does not hurt the function of the microtubules in any way, but the bleached, nonfluorescent subunits in the microtubules now serve to mark a fixed location relative to the (+) and (-) ends. pl. membr. spindle A. Label one of each of the following: kinetochore MT, astral MT, polar MT. Indicate (+) and (-) ends. B. As the cell progresses through anaphase B, do the bleached spots get closer to, further from, or stay the same distance from the spindle pole they are embedded in? Why? Do they get closer to, further from, or stay the same distance from the plasma membrane? Why?arrow_forwardThe drug taxol is extracted from the bark of yew trees. It binds tightly to microtubules and stabilizes them. When added to cells, it causes much of the free tubulin to assemble into microtubules. Taxol can be used as an anticancer drug. At the molecular level, what does the drug prevent? At the cellular level, what part of cell division does it prevent? Be specific.arrow_forwardWhich of the following statements regarding microtubules is FALSE? Microtubules are typically arranged in cells such that thoir plus (+) ends are directed towards the plasma membrane and their minus (-) ends are attached to the centrosomes. Microtubules are composed of 13 protofilaments that are arranged into a hollow cylinder. Microtubules are polar. Microtubule-binding proteins, such as Tau, bind to microtubules to destabilizo thom. Microtubules are inherently unstable and rapidly disassemble with low/ GTIP concentrations.arrow_forward
- Actin filaments and microtubules are similar with respect to each of the following EXCEPT: inherent polarity with plus and minus ends growth requires an organizing center association with motor proteins both are polymers of subunits regular remodelingarrow_forwardIntermediate filaments have identical ends and lack polarity, whereas microtubules have two distinct ends with defined polarity. What is the molecular cause of these differences? Please keep brief - 2 sentences/dot points max.arrow_forwardA fluorescent molecule of 2000 daltons is microinjected into a single cell of an epithelial layer. When the layer is examined in a fluorescence microscope, the molecule remains confined to that cell. However, when a fluorescent molecule of 800 daltons is injected into a single cell of an epithelial layer, it quickly appears in the adjacent cells. Which of the following is responsible for the spread of the smaller molecule? 1. A) Desmosomes (maculae adherentes) 2. B) Focal contacts 3. C) Gap junctions 4. D) Intermediate junctions 5. E) Tight junctions (zonulae occludentes)arrow_forward
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