The Cytoskeleton

1. Front Matter

   Pages I-XI

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2. Prologue

   1. Prologue

      • Manfred Schliwa

      Pages 1-2

3. Components

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 3-3

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   2. Cytoplasmic Contractile Proteins

      • Manfred Schliwa

      Pages 5-47

   3. Microtubules

      • Manfred Schliwa

      Pages 47-82

   4. Intermediate Filaments

      • Manfred Schliwa

      Pages 82-115

   5. Dynamic Aspects of Filament Assembly

      • Manfred Schliwa

      Pages 115-124

   6. Other Filament Types

      • Manfred Schliwa

      Pages 124-132

4. Interactions

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 133-133

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   2. General Aspects of the Three-Dimensional Organization of Cytoskeletal Components

      • Manfred Schliwa

      Pages 135-145

   3. Interactions Between the Major Filamentous Components of the Cytoskeleton

      • Manfred Schliwa

      Pages 145-167

   4. The Cytoskeleton and the Cytoplasmic Matrix

      • Manfred Schliwa

      Pages 167-178

   5. Membrane-Cytoskeleton Interactions

      • Manfred Schliwa

      Pages 179-241

5. Back Matter

   Pages 243-329

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The term cytoskeleton has become firmly established in today's scientific vocabulary. Indeed, it is difficult to believe that only ten years ago, it was virtually non-existent. Since then, the modern field of research on the structural organization of the cytoplasm has turned into one of the most productive and rapidly expanding research areas in Cell Biology today. Considerable progress has been made towards the identification of the various structural components of the cytoskeleton and their interactions with one another and with membranes. The first attempts to understand, in molecular terms, complex cellular processes such as shape changes, locomotion, division, and organelle movements have been made. And it is now apparent that the cytoskeleton has impact on other biological processes such as the control of gene expression, protein synthesis, cell cycle regulation, and development. This monograph outlines the basic properties of the major components of the polymeric filament networks and their interactions and associations. Wherever possible, emphasis is placed on more recent references. Any attempt to cover a research field this complex in an introductory mono­ graph is, by necessity, fragmentary, and oversights or omissions are inevitable. I wish to apologize in advance to all those colleagues who feel that their work is not adequately represented.

• cytoskeleton

• Department of Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, USA

  Manfred Schliwa

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