actin
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Classification
- in vertebrates, there are 3 main groups of actin isoforms, alpha-actins, beta-actins & gamma-actins
- the alpha-actins are found in muscle tissues & are a major constituent of the contractile apparatus
- the beta-actins & gamma-actins coexist in most cell types as components of the cytoskeleton & as mediators of internal cell motility
Function
- involved in various types of cell motility
- polymerization of globular actin (G-actin) leads to a structural filament (F-actin) in the form of a two-stranded helix
- each actin can bind to 4 others
Structure
-actins are highly conserved proteins
Expression
- ubiquitously expressed in all eukaryotic cells
Laboratory
Notes
- 10% of a typical cell's protein is actin, about 50% is in the polymeric state
More general terms
More specific terms
- actin, cytoplasmic 1; beta-actin (ACTB)
- actin, cytoplasmic 2; gamma-actin (ACTG1, ACTG)
- alpha actin
- F-actin
- protein beta-actin-like; Kappa-actin (ACTK, ACTBL2)