one of two proteins that make up myofilaments; provides cell with mechanical support and plays roles in cell shape and movement.

the most abundant single protein in most eukaryotic cells. Microfilaments are essentially actin polymers. Actin may exist as a globular monomer (G-actin) or as a linear polymer (F-actin). See links at Microfilament Links.

A major protein component of host cell cytoskeleton; one of the most abundant proteins in eukaryotic cells. It comprises from 1-20% of the total cell protein. Comprised of monomeric G-actin and polmerimeric F-actin. Actin polymerization is necessary for cell motility and phagocytosis (Lecture: The Actin Cytoskeleton, 4/2/02)

A protein that forms long filaments (or chains) and is important in maintaining cell shape. When it acts together with myosin, it produces cell movement.

One of the two forms of myofilament in muscle cells; the other is myosin.

One of the two main contractile proteins in a muscle fiber.

one of the proteins into which actomyosin can be split; can exist in either a globular or a fibrous form

A protein that is important in maintaining cell shape. It also acts together with myosin to produce cell movement.

Abundant structural protein in eukaryotic cells that interacts with many other proteins. The monomeric globular form (G actin) polymerizes to form actin filaments (F actin). In muscle cells, F actin interacts with myosin during contraction. See also microfilaments.

Actin is the major protein making up the thin contractile filaments in muscle. The I-band in skeletal muscle sarcomeres consists only of actin filaments.

Abundant protein that forms actin filaments in all eucaryotic cells. The monomeric form is sometimes called globular or G-actin; the polymeric form is filamentous or F-actin.

a protein filament within the sarcomeres of muscle cells.

A filamentous protein that is a key component of the framework of the cell.

The protein from which microfilaments are composed; forms the contractile filaments of sarcomeres in muscle cells.

AK-tin A type of protein in the thin myofilaments of skeletal muscle cells. Also part of cytoskeletons. 100, 597

A contractile protein that is very prevalent in muscle

(AHK-tihn) The contractile protein that makes up the major portion of thin filaments in muscle fibers.

A vital protein component of muscle, one of the proteins responsible for muscle contraction.

A protein that participates in muscle contraction and other forms of cellular motility.

A motor protein. Actin forms the backbone of the thin filaments of striated muscle cells and is also involved in other cellular motions, such as the movement of growth cones.

The protein component of microfilaments that forms thin filaments in skeletal muscles and produces contractions of all muscles through interaction with thick (myosin) filaments; see also sliding filament theory.

protein (of size 42 kD) and one of the major components of the acto myosin motor. First isolated from striated muscle and often referred to as one of the muscle proteins.

Actin is a globular structural, 345 kd, protein that polymerizes in a helical fashion to form an actin filament (or microfilament). These form the cytoskeleton - a three-dimensional network inside an eukaryotic cell. Actin filaments provide mechanical support for the cell, determine the cell shape, enable cell movements (through lamellipodia, filopodia, or pseudopodia); and participate in certain cell junctions, in cytoplasmic streaming and in contraction of the cell during cytokinesis..