Video-Enhanced Microscopy for Analysis of Cytoskeleton Structure and Function

The cytoskeleton is a dynamic network of filaments in the cytoplasm of cells and functions as the roadways for vesicular transport. Of the three types of cytoskeletal filaments, both microtubules and actin filaments have been shown to support vesicle transport. The transport of vesicles is mediated by molecular motors and members of all three super-families of molecular motors-myosin, kinesin and cytoplasmic dynein-have been shown to function as vesicle motors (1 –4 ). The specific types of vesicles transported by some of the molecular motors have been identified (4 –6 ).