Cell Pathology Project

The Cytoskeleton and Sickle Cell Anemia

By Zachary Wol
10/29/15
AP Biology Sitnich 2nd

Cellular Structure
The Cytoskeleton is located throughout the
entire Cell through the Cytoplasm and is
connected to the Cell Membrane.
The Cytoskeleton is composed of Microfilaments,
Intermediate Filaments, and Microtubules.

The Cytoskeleton is #7.

Microfilaments are composed of the Protein

Actin.
Intermediate Filaments are composed of 70
dierent Proteins, with the primary one being
Keratin.
Microtubules are composed of the Protein
Tublin.

Actin Filaments are shown

in red.

Normal Function
The Cytoskeleton's functions are to Support the Cell, as well as provide its
Motility, and to Biochemically Regulate the Cell.
In other words, the Cytoskeleton 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.
The Cytoskeleton is important to the survival of the Cell and the Organism in the
way that if the Cytoskeleton didn't exist, the Cell would simply be a very soft and
fluid collection of organelles. Cells would be unable to support their own weight, let
alone that of a tissue or organ, and, would lose essential signaling pathways,
motility, cytokinesis, organelle movement, delivery of components; in other words,
they would be incapable of carrying out the essential processes that give rise to life

The Disease
Sickle-Cell Anemia is a hereditary blood disorder, characterized by an
abnormality in the oxygen-carrying Haemoglobin molecule in red blood
cells.
It distorts the healthy red blood cell shape of a circle with a depressed
center into a sickle shape.
Red blood cells maintain their shape with a specialized Cytoskeleton
composed of a network of the Proteins Actin and Spectrin. In Sickle-Cell
Anemia, this Actin/Spectrin lattice 'locks', making red blood cells much
less deformable, and causing them to obstruct the microcirculation.

Sickle-Cell Anemia is associated with a number of acute and

chronic health problems, such as severe infections, attacks of
severe pain ("sickle-cell crisis"), and stroke, and there is an
increased risk of death.
Sickle-Cell Anemia occurs when a person inherits two
abnormal copies of the haemoglobin gene, one from each parent.
Several subtypes exist, depending on the exact mutation in each
haemoglobin gene.
A person with a single abnormal copy does not experience
symptoms and is said to have sickle-cell trait. Such people are
also referred to as carriers.

Eect on the Cell

Overall, the greatest eect
on the red blood cell is its
change in shape from the
healthy circle with the
depressed center to the
sickle shape.

Eect on Organism
Overall, the greatest eect on
the organism are the negative
health consequences.
The formation of clots can
lead to strokes and constant
pain can be symptoms.
In general, the risk of death is
significantly increased.

References
http://www.nature.com/horizon/livingfrontier/background/
diseases.html
http://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/microtubules-andfilaments-14052932
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cytoskeleton#
http://www.mechanobio.info/topics/cytoskeleton-dynamics
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sickle-cell_disease#