Which statement describes the role of intermediate filaments?
APurely structural, with no role in movement
BChiefly motile, dragging vesicles along
CChiefly digestive, breaking down waste
DPurely secretory, exporting proteins
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: A. Purely structural, with no role in movement
1. Intermediate filaments have no role in cell movement.
2. Their function is purely structural.
3. They bear tension and so maintain the shape of the cell.
4. They also anchor the nucleus and other organelles in place, creating a supportive scaffolding.
5. Dragging vesicles along is the microtubule's job, so that answer confuses the two fiber types.
6. Keratin, which strengthens hair, nails and the epidermis of the skin, is a fitting example of a purely structural protein.
_Source: OpenStax Biology (1st ed., CC BY 4.0), Ch 4 "Cell Structure", section 4.5 The Cytoskeleton_
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