真核细胞骨架由三种基本纤维和上百种纤维结合蛋白组成。除了保持细胞形状、分隔固定细胞内部结构和参与构成某些细胞器外,真核细胞骨架还具有物质运输、信号传递、参与细胞运动、分化、增殖以及调节基因表达等作用。既然细胞骨架功能如此多样,那么它的变化必然会从多方面影响细胞行为。细胞骨架对重力变化相当敏感,微重力刺激对微管/微丝有破坏作用,进而影响了细胞生长、分裂、信号传导、新陈代谢等过程。

The eukaryotic cytoskeleton is composed of three basic types of filaments and their associated proteins. Itfunctions not only to maintain cell shape, segregate cellular components and form organelles, but also plays important rolein the movement of cells, signals transduction, solute transportation, cell growth, differentiation and the regulation ofgenes expression. The cytoskeleton is sensitive to gravitational changes and can be altered when exposed to themicrogravity. Microgravity can induce changes in the cytoskeleton and affect cell growth, differentiation,mechanotransduction? as well as cell metabolism.