< Overview of Cell Biology

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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

See also

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