Cytoskeleton and motility · USMLE Step 1

Which statement best captures the dynamic nature of the cytoskeleton in a typical eukaryotic cell?

  1. Cytoskeletal filaments remain rigid and static once assembled
  2. Only intermediate filaments are dynamic; actin and microtubules are static
  3. Filaments continually grow and shrink, altering cell shape, motility, and division
  4. Cytoskeleton does not participate in signal transduction or intracellular transport
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Correct answer: Filaments continually grow and shrink, altering cell shape, motility, and division

The cytoskeleton is a dynamic network whose filaments continuously polymerize and depolymerize, rearranging the cell’s shape, enabling motility, organelle transport, and cell division.

Difficulty: Medium Question 14 of 21

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