Question

Small vesicles containing pigment inside of pigmented fish epidermal cells aggregate or disperse in response to treatment with certain chemicals. When nocodazole is added to cells in which the pigment granules have been induced to aggregate, the granules cannot disperse again. Small vesicles containing pigment inside of pigmented fish epidermal cells aggregate or disperse in response to treatment with certain chemicals. When nocodazole is added to cells in which the pigment granules have been induced to aggregate, the granules cannot disperse again. Pigment granules can either aggregate or disperse. Once aggregated the granules cannot disperse again, and vice versa. Intermediate filaments have a large effect on the pigment granule dispersal process and can stabilize resulting aggregates. Pigment granule dispersal is a microtubule-dependent process.

Answer 1

The question discusses how nocodazole, by disrupting microtubules, prevents the dispersion of pigment granules in fish epidermal cells, demonstrating the role of microtubules and intermediate filaments in pigment granule movement.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question pertains to the behavior of pigment granules in pigmented fish epidermal cells in response to chemical treatment. Nocodazole, a chemical inhibitor that disrupts microtubules, prevents the dispersion of pigment granules once they have aggregated. This indicates that pigment granule dispersal is a microtubule-dependent process. Furthermore, the question notes that intermediate filaments significantly impact the dispersal and stabilization of these pigment granules.

This process is akin to those observed in eukaryotic cells, where microtubules, actin filaments, and intermediate filaments form the cytoskeleton and play a critical role in various cellular functions, including intracellular transport and cell division. Observations like this are often visualized using fluorescent dyes, highlighting specific cellular structures under a fluorescence microscope.

Answer 2

Pigment granule dispersal is a microtubule-dependent process.