The cytoskeleton is responsible for contraction, cell motility, movement of organelles and vesicles through the cytoplasm, cytokinesis, establishment of the intracellular organization of the cytoplasm, establishment of cell polarity, and many other functions that are essential for cellular homeostasis and survival.

Chapter 11The Cytoskeleton and Cell Movement The cytoskeleton provides a structural framework for the cell, serving as a scaffold that determines cell shape and the general organization of the cytoplasm. In addition to playing this structural role, the cytoskeleton is responsible for cell movements.

The cytoskeleton

A number of motor proteins are found in the cytoskeleton. As their name suggests, these proteins actively move cytoskeleton fibers. As a result, molecules and organelles are transported around the cell. Motor proteins are powered by ATP, which is generated through cellular respiration.

Microtubules and Filaments. The cytoskeleton is a structure that helps cells maintain their shape and internal organization, and it also provides mechanical support that enables cells to carry out essential functions like division and movement.

Eukaryotes (/juːˈkærioʊts, -əts/) are organisms whose cells have a nucleus enclosed within a nuclear envelope. Eukaryotes belong to the domain Eukaryota or Eukarya; their name comes from the Greek εὖ (eu, “well” or “good”) and κάρυον (karyon, “nut” or “kernel”).

Eukaryotic cells contain 80S ribosomes in the rough endoplasmic reticulum (membrane bound-ribosomes) and cytoplasm (free ribosomes). They contain 70s ribosomes in mitochondria and chloroplasts. Eukaryotic cells have evolved an endomembrane system, containing membrane-bound organelles involved in transport.