Overview of Cell Biology/Evolution of the Cytoskeleton

Readings

 * Study guide:
 * Wikipedia article: The Cytoskeleton

The Cytoskeleton
The Cytoskeleton consists of several different systems called filamentous polymers:

Critical concentration (Cc): If concentration of monomer < Cc, no polymerization occurs. If concentration of monomer > Cc, polymerization occurs.

Some cytoskeletal polymers are polar and have structural directionality. Due to this directionality, proteins can be transported along the polymer.

Mutants
FtsZ(-) mutants fail to undergo cytokinesis or cell division at restrictive temperatures

MreB(-) mutants of normally rod shaped bacteria assume a spherical shape

CreS(-) mutants of normally crescent shaped bacteria assume a rod shape

ParM(-) mutants fail to segregate plasmids between daughter cells