Explain the importance of the cytoskeleton's role in providing mechanical strength to cells, aiding transport within cells and enabling movement of the cell.

The cytoskeleton is an internal framework within the cell made up of two different protein fibres: microfilaments and microtubules. It has a number of different functions including: providing mechanical strength to the cell as well as supporting the structure of the cell and its organelles. The cytoskeleton also transports material within the cell, an example of this being the transport of the spindle within the cell during mitosis. And lastly the cytoskeleton also enables cell movement for example via cilia and flagella. The cytoskeleton has a very important role within the cell which can be seen by its wide range of functions. This importance can be observed in the movement of kinesin, a motor protein, along the internal framework of microtubules within a cell its movement powered by the hydrolysis of ATP. Kinesin is involved in mitosis, meiosis and movement of cargo within the cell. Another example of the cytoskeleton’s importance is that of the cilia and flagella. Both structures are formed of 9 microtubules in a cylindrical shape. Movement of these structures allows movement of the cell. An example of this is the flagella of the mammalian sperm cells that allows the sperm to ‘swim’ to the unfertilised egg.