Cytoskeleton Terms

Cytoskeleton - this structure is found all over the cell. It functions is helping the cell maintain its shape, provides support and aids in intercellular movement and division. It is made up of 3 filaments: actin, microtubules and intermediate filaments

Actin - This is a microfilament that averages 8 nm in diameter. It is mostly known for acting with myosin in muscle contraction. These filaments are made up of actin monomers. Their functions include movement, cytoplasmic streaming, cytokinesis, and linking transmembrane proteins.









Intermediate filaments - This is the next largest size where it averages 10 nm in diameter. They provide structural support in the cell. There are many kinds of intermediate filaments: keratins, vimentins, nuclear laminins, and neurofilaments.

Microtubules - These are the largest at 25 nm in diameter. They are composed of alpha and beta tubulin monomers. Microtubules originate at the centrosomes in animal cells. Microtubules play a large part in motor. Its motors are kinesins and dyneins.

Tubulin - This is the monomer that makes up microtubules. There are two kinds: alpha and beta. Both dimerize then these times come together to make the protofilaments. Growing occurs on the plus end of the microtubule.





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References:

• http://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/microtubules-and-filaments-14052932
• http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/C/Cytoskeleton.html
• http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e6/Thin_filament_formation.svg/220px-Thin_filament_formation.svg.png
• http://cytochemistry.net/_Media/filam2.gif
• http://www.nature.com/scitable/content/ne0000/ne0000/ne0000/ne0000/14673338/U3.cp2.2_nrn2631-i1.jpg
• http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/content/dam/sigma-aldrich/life-science/metabolomics/enzyme-explorer/tubulin.gif

Baby Syndactyly

This picture really shows the importance of apoptosis aside from just death of cells that need to go.

This baby was born with his third and fourth fingers fused. Reading the comments, people were discussing the importance of apoptosis. It turns out at apoptosis is the process that degrades the webbing between fingers and toes starting at 16 weeks in the womb. This condition is genetic. In the picture is type 1.

I just thought this was cool to share!

Figure 1 - Medical Images

What a weird title, right? Well it will be explained!

Figure 1 - Medical Images is an app that can be downloaded for both Andriod and iPhone users. This awesome app exposes its viewers to medical images from all over the world! Doctors, nurses, and medical students would post pictures, X-rays, MRIs, CTs, and others on this app to share with other people in the health professions. It is so cool!

What is great is that it is an application of all of the biology I have learned. Just recently, I saw a pathology slide that stained for any abnormalities in the colon. They noticed adenoma in the cecum. It is so cool that their training has allowed them to recognize what is normal in the body so that they can determine was in abnormal. These pathologists know what normal cells look like in the body. What a feat!

I just wanted to share this frequent encounter I am having, =)