Are cytoskeleton filaments/rods a type of protein?
1 Answer
Jun 8, 2018
They aren't a type of protein. They're made of a type of protein.
Explanation:
Microtubules are made of tubulin protien
Microfilaments are actin protein
intermediate filaments are made of more than one specific type
In all cases the proteins that make up the cytoskeletal elements add from the ends, (or middle for intermediate filaments) to make one sort of protofilament that then combines with another protofilament. Like how thread makes yarn and many yarn threads make rope.
TL:DR, proteins are the subunits of cytoskelatal elements but no the elements themselves.
