cytoskeletal

Cytoskeletal is an adjective used to describe anything related to the cytoskeleton, the dynamic network of protein filaments that gives cells their shape, mechanical strength, and capacity for movement. The core cytoskeletal systems are actin filaments (microfilaments), microtubules, and intermediate filaments. Some organisms and cells also employ other filamentous networks such as septins. These elements interact with a variety of accessory proteins that regulate assembly, disassembly, organization, and crosslinking.

Actin filaments support the cell cortex, generate force for movement, and drive processes such as cytokinesis and lamellipodial protrusion. Microtubules form a polarized scaffold that organizes intracellular transport, positions organelles, and forms the mitotic spindle during cell division. Intermediate filaments provide tensile strength and structural resilience, helping cells withstand mechanical stress. Motor proteins such as myosins, dyneins, and kinesins convert chemical energy into mechanical work to move along these filaments, enabling cargo transport and motility. The cytoskeletal network is highly dynamic, with rapid remodeling in response to signaling, mechanical cues, and developmental programs.

Disruption or misregulation of cytoskeletal components is associated with a range of diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders, cardiomyopathies, and cancer metastasis. The cytoskeleton is a major target of pharmacological agents used in cancer therapy (for example, microtubule-targeting drugs) and research tools that probe cytoskeletal dynamics employ fluorescent labeling and live-cell imaging. In biology, "cytoskeletal" is used to describe structures, dynamics, or processes that involve the cytoskeleton, such as cytoskeletal remodeling or cytoskeletal integrity.