Home
Chapter Home
Jobs
Conferences
Fellowships
Books
Advertisement
Stains
Actin-general
Reviewer: Nat Pernick, M.D., PathologyOutlines.com, Inc. (see Reviewers page)
Revised: 24 April 2011, last major update April 2011
Copyright: (c) 2002-2011, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.
General
=========================================================================
● Globular protein found in all eukaryotic cells except nematode sperm (Wikipedia)
● Highly conserved, differs by at most 20% between algae and humans
Pathophysiology
=========================================================================
● Monomeric subunit of microfilaments; one of 3 major components of cytoskeleton (also microtubules and intermediate filaments); also a component of thin filaments (part of contractile apparatus of muscle cells)
● Mammalian muscle cells contain alpha and gamma smooth muscle actin, alpha cardiac actin and alpha skeletal actin
● Mammalian nonmuscle cells contain beta cytoplasmic actin and gamma cytoplasmic actin
● Functions in all cells - (1) forms part of cytoskeleton which give mechanical support to cell and is part of signal transduction, (2) assists with motility and phagocytosis, (3) help myosins transport organelles and other substances through cell
● Function in muscle cells - contraction
Drawings / animations
=========================================================================
Actin and myosin in muscle
Animation of muscle contraction
Animation of muscle contraction
End of Stains > Actin-general
This information is intended for physicians and related personnel, who understand that medical information is often imperfect, and must be interpreted in the context of a patient's clinical data using reasonable medical judgment. This website should not be used as a substitute for the advice of a licensed physician.
All information on this website is protected by copyright of Pathologyoutlines.com, Inc. Information from third parties may also be protected by copyright. Please contact us at copyrightPathOut@gmail.com with any questions (click here for other contact information).