Can anyone clarify the functions of microfilaments and microtubules

[September24]

I know both are found in pretty much all cells. Filaments are made of actin while tubules are made of tubules.

Microtubule: cell division, phagocytosis, flagella movement

Microfilaments: muscle contraction. Movement


I keep finding that both are involved in cell division, spindle, cell shape, and motility. Can anyone clarify or confirm?

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[Czarcasm]

I know both are found in pretty much all cells. Filaments are made of actin while tubules are made of tubules.

Microtubule: cell division, phagocytosis, flagella movement

Microfilaments: muscle contraction. Movement


I keep finding that both are involved in cell division, spindle, cell shape, and motility. Can anyone clarify or confirm?

Everything you said seems right, but I promise you this level of excruciating detail will not benefit you on the MCAT and isn't worth stressing over.

 

[dyspareunia]

I know both are found in pretty much all cells. Filaments are made of actin while tubules are made of tubules.

Microtubule: cell division, phagocytosis, flagella movement

Microfilaments: muscle contraction. Movement


I keep finding that both are involved in cell division, spindle, cell shape, and motility. Can anyone clarify or confirm?

Microfilaments are responsible for cytokinesis. They form a contractile ring that pinches the cells at the cleavage furrow -> 1 cell becomes 2 cells. In general, microfilaments play a role in everything because they are the main structural units of cells.

 

[Action Replay]

What you have is correct (although I think you meant to say Tubulin for the building blocks of MT) I don't think the details are super important. The only thing I'd keep in mind is that a prokaryotic flagella is not the same as a eukaryotic flagella. The former is made of flagellin (not tubulin) and operates by rotating while the latter is made of tubulin subunits and propels via whip action.

 

[September24]

What you have is correct (although I think you meant to say Tubulin for the building blocks of MT) I don't think the details are super important. The only thing I'd keep in mind is that a prokaryotic flagella is not the same as a eukaryotic flagella. The former is made of flagellin (not tubulin) and operates by rotating while the latter is made of tubulin subunits and propels via whip action.

Do both use ATP for movement?

 

[ketosisevangelist]

Do both use ATP for movement?

This is a wonderful question that I am not able to answer. However...all cells utilize ATP and cells have microtubules. So yes, the cell that "OWNS the microtubule" uses ATP.

From what I read and understand all membrane movement require calcium, ATP, and microtubules.

WHY WOULD I EVER NEED TO KNOW THIS? Chediak - Higashi disease etiology is due to defective microtubules that result in recurrent Staph and Strep infections. The reurrent infections are due to inadequate phagocytosis. When you must phagocytose, you need microtubules for movement. If you are not able to phagocytose because of defective microtubules, you may have a lot of problems.

Even more interesting about microtubules is their role PRIMARY CILIARY DYSKINESIA and KARTAGENER'S syndrome. Your heart may end up being on the right side instead of the left aka DEXTROCARDIA.

Best luck.

PS: to drive it home...google the mechanism of action of the anti-fungal GRISEOFULVIN.
when you stop the fungal microtubules, you stop their movement. please do not spend the rest of your life studying microtubules.

 

[Action Replay]

Do both use ATP for movement?

Sorry for the delayed response.
The eukaryote flagella uses ATP. The bacterial flagellum on the other hand is powered by a proton gradient created across the cell membrane. Again, I wouldn't obsess over the details, just know that prokaryotic flagella is made of flagellin and not tubulin based MTs.