Cytoskeletal components with a 7 nm diameter are discovered in the cultured cells of an animal.Which would be a good experiment to check your hypothesis about the identity of these cytoskeletal components?
A) Expose the cells to a substance that binds myosin proteins, and see if the cell is still able to make the structures.
B) Incubate the cells in a substance that will depolymerize actin, and observe whether the structure collapses.
C) Inject a tubulin binding protein, and see whether the cell is able to maintain the structures.
D) Add a dynein inhibitor, and see whether the structures disappear.
E) Include a keratin digestion component in the culture, and confirm loss of the structure.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

CActin filaments, which are part of the cytoskeleton, have a diameter of about 7 nm. To test if the structures are actin filaments, depolymerizing actin (choice B) would cause the structures to collapse if they are indeed actin. Injecting a tubulin binding protein (choice C) would affect microtubules, which have a larger diameter, and thus serves as a control to confirm that the structures are not microtubules.

Cytoskeletal Components with a 7 Nm Diameter Are Discovered in the Cultured