1. Fluorescent staining of cytoskeletal elements.
- Author
-
Hosick, Howard L.
- Subjects
Fluorescent antibody technique ,Cytoskeleton ,Fluorescent dyes - Abstract
Cells require an internal system of fibers in order to maintain and change their shape. Perhaps the most straightforward function of the cytoskeleton is to provide cell support, a scaffolding that gives each cell a distinctive three-dimensional shape. Without such support every cell would be shaped like a fried egg. The fibers found in the cytoskeleton serve other functions as well: for example, as rails along which substances shuttle from one part of the cell to another. Equally important is the role of the cytoskeleton in cell movement and change in cell shape. The various cytoskeletal fibers can be rearranged, dissolved, and reconstructed at new locations when need be. The cytoskeleton is also a key component of some highly specialized cell structures, such as cilia and flagella.
- Published
- 2023