External factors play a big role in how the cytoskeleton works in cells. The cytoskeleton has three main parts: microfilaments, microtubules, and intermediate filaments.

1. Microfilaments

• What They Are: Made mainly of a protein called actin, microfilaments are small, about 7 nanometers wide.
• How Factors Affect Them: Things like environmental stress can change how actin works. For example, when there are high levels of harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species (ROS), actin can break down faster. This can impact how well cells move.

2. Microtubules

• What They Are: Microtubules are made from building blocks called tubulin and are about 25 nanometers wide.
• How Factors Affect Them: Changes in temperature can make them less stable. For every 1°C increase in temperature, the amount of tubulin needed to form microtubules goes down by about 5%. This can cause microtubules to break apart, making it harder for cells to transport things and divide properly.

3. Intermediate Filaments

• What They Are: These are sized between 10 to 12 nanometers and help support the structure of the cell.
• How Factors Affect Them: Changes in pH, which measures how acidic or basic a solution is, can impact how well intermediate filaments come together. For instance, if the pH goes down (becomes more acidic), the ability to form these filaments can drop by 30%.

Conclusion

In summary, it's really important to understand how these outside factors affect the cytoskeleton. This helps us learn more about how cells behave and adapt to changes in their environment.