Abstract
Several topics on cytoskeletal structures are discussed particularly in relation to dynamics of the plasma membrane based on our recent observations. The mobility of surface receptors of lymphocytes is both positively and negatively regulated by cytoskeleton. Conversely, surface events induced by ligands caused reorganization of cytoskeletal structures which consist of microfilaments and microtubules. A study on ligand-independent capping induced in hypertonic medium disclosed a problem as to how suprastructures of filamentous actin are disorganized and reorganized during surface capping. The mechanism of the actoin of cytochalasin, a probe for elucidating the function of microfilaments, is presented. Finally, we demonstrate a cell-cycle dependent alteration of microtubule structures of mouse lymphoma cells.
