Actin

Actin is a highly conserved protein that polymerizes into filaments forming a dynamic part of the eukaryotic cytoskeleton. Its filaments support cell shape, movement, and muscle contraction through interactions with myosin.

Actin polymerization: The assembly of globular actin monomers into filamentous actin. Adding and losing subunits lets actin networks grow, shrink, and push against cell membranes.
Muscle contraction: The generation of force in muscle through interactions between actin and myosin filaments. Actin provides the thin filaments that slide past myosin during contraction.
G-actin: The globular, monomeric form of actin that can assemble into filaments. G-actin is the soluble building block from which actin filaments grow.
Microtubule: A hollow cytoskeletal tube assembled from tubulin proteins. Microtubules provide a contrasting track system, with different structure and motor proteins.
Actin–myosin sliding filament model: A model explaining muscle contraction through sliding of actin and myosin filaments past one another. It accounts for how actin filaments shorten sarcomeres without themselves shortening.
Actin filament: A polar polymer of actin subunits that forms a dynamic cytoskeletal structure. This filament is the structural form through which actin bears force and binds partners.
Cell migration: The directed movement of a cell through or across its environment. Actin assembly at the front and contraction at the rear help propel migrating cells.
F-actin: The filamentous polymer formed by linked actin subunits. F-actin is the assembled form that provides structural support and force-bearing tracks.
Intermediate filament: A rope-like cytoskeletal polymer that resists mechanical stress in cells. Unlike actin filaments, intermediate filaments mainly provide tensile strength rather than dynamic force generation.
Phalloidin: A cyclic peptide toxin from death cap mushrooms that binds and stabilizes actin filaments. Its selective binding makes it useful for labeling filamentous actin in cells.

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