Microtubules are conveyer belts inside the cells. They move vesicles, granules, organelles like mitochondria, and chromosomes via special attachment proteins. They also serve a cytoskeletal role. Structurally, they are linear polymers of tubulin which is a globular protein. These linear polymers are called protofilaments. The figure to the left shows a three dimensional view of a microtubule. The tubulin molecules are the bead like structures. A protofilament is a linear row of tubulin beads. Text Reff: http://cellbio.utmb.edu/cellbio/microtub.htm
Channels: Scientific Animations Biochemistry Cell Biology
Tags: microtubules
Uploaded by: arsinsol ( Send Message ) on 03-12-2007.
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