Microtubule
Microtubule
Microtubule (pronounced: /ˌmaɪkroʊˈtjuːbjuːl/) is a component of the cytoskeleton, found throughout the cytoplasm of all eukaryotic cells.
Etymology
The term "microtubule" is derived from the Greek words "mikros" meaning small, and "tubulus" meaning a small tube.
Definition
Microtubules are cylindrical structures that are involved in maintaining the structure of the cell and, together with microfilaments and intermediate filaments, they form the cytoskeleton. They also play crucial roles in mitosis, intracellular transport, and signal transduction.
Structure
Microtubules are composed of tubulin, a globular protein. Each microtubule is made up of 13 parallel strands called protofilaments, which are themselves composed of a linear chain of tubulin dimers, each consisting of one alpha-tubulin and one beta-tubulin molecule.
Function
Microtubules have several functions. During mitosis, the microtubules of the mitotic spindle help separate the chromosomes into the daughter cells. Microtubules also form the axonemes of cilia and flagella, and are involved in the transport of organelles and vesicles within the cell, a process known as intracellular trafficking.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Microtubule
- Wikipedia's article - Microtubule
This WikiMD article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski