The Cytoskeleton

The cytoskeleton is the machinery of the human cell, allowing cells to move, to divide and to transport material. This monograph explores its major elements - the microfilaments, microtubules and intermediate filaments - and explains how they interact to generate cell structure and dynamics.

---

The cytoskeleton is the fabric and the machinery of the cell. It defines shape and polarity, and it allows the cells to move, to transport material and to divide. The major networking elements are the microfilaments, microtubules and intermediate filaments. They interact with a host of cell components, from small peptides to giant proteins. Many have recently become accessible for analysis by protein and DNA technology. Some protein structures have now been solved by crystallography and NMR, giving us a glimpse of the mechanisms of motility at the molecular level. The interplay of the machinery can be visualised in real time by modern video microscopy. This book gives a current overview of the players and how they interact to generate cell structure and dynamics.