The cytoskeleton consists of polymeric protein filaments with periodic lattices displaying identical binding sites, which establish a multivalent platform for the binding of a plethora of filament-associated ligand proteins. Multivalent ligand proteins can tether themselves to the filaments through one of their binding sites, resulting in an enhanced reaction kinetics for the remaining binding sites. In this Opinion, we discuss a number of cytoskeletal phenomena underpinned by such multivalent interactions, namely (1) generation of entropic forces by filament crosslinkers, (2) processivity of molecular motors, (3) spatial sorting of proteins, and (4) concentration-dependent unbinding of filament-associated proteins. These examples highlight that cytoskeletal filaments constitute the basis for the formation of microenvironments, which cytoskeletal ligand proteins can associate with and, once engaged, can act within at altered reaction kinetics. We thus argue that multivalency is one of the properties crucial for the functionality of the cytoskeleton.

中文翻译：

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通过多价相互作用形成细胞骨架。

细胞骨架由具有周期性晶格的聚合蛋白丝组成，显示相同的结合位点，为大量丝相关配体蛋白的结合建立了多价平台。多价配体蛋白可以通过其结合位点之一将自身拴在细丝上，从而增强其余结合位点的反应动力学。在本意见中，我们讨论了由这种多价相互作用支持的许多细胞骨架现象，即 (1) 长丝交联剂产生的熵力，(2) 分子马达的持续合成能力，(3) 蛋白质的空间分类，以及 (4) 浓度丝相关蛋白的依赖性解结合。这些例子强调了细胞骨架细丝构成了微环境形成的基础，哪些细胞骨架配体蛋白可以与哪些细胞骨架配体蛋白结合，一旦参与，可以在改变的反应动力学中发挥作用。因此，我们认为多价性是对细胞骨架功能至关重要的特性之一。