Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 15, 2026

In Vitro Polymerization of F-actin on Early Endosomes
12:15

In Vitro Polymerization of F-actin on Early Endosomes

Published on: August 28, 2017

In vitro actin assembly assays and purification from Acanthamoeba

J Bradley Zuchero1

  • 1Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.

Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|April 10, 2007
PubMed
Summary

Investigating actin polymerization kinetics and filament structures using in vitro models reveals how cofactors regulate essential cellular processes like motility and endocytosis.

More Related Videos

Reconstitution of Actin-Based Motility with Commercially Available Proteins08:40

Reconstitution of Actin-Based Motility with Commercially Available Proteins

Published on: October 28, 2022

Actin Co-Sedimentation Assay; for the Analysis of Protein Binding to F-Actin07:53

Actin Co-Sedimentation Assay; for the Analysis of Protein Binding to F-Actin

Published on: March 28, 2008

Related Concept Videos

Introduction to Actin01:26

Introduction to Actin

Actin is a highly conserved cytoskeletal protein found abundantly in eukaryotic cells. It constitutes 10% weight of the total cellular protein in muscle cells, while in non-muscle cells, it is lower and makes up around 1–5 percent of the total cell protein. Actin found in the unicellular amoebae and complex multicellular animals is around 80% similar, demonstrating their conservation over a billion years of evolution.  Actin coding genes are conserved within species and across different species.
Generation of Straight or Branched Actin Filaments01:14

Generation of Straight or Branched Actin Filaments

The straight or branched structure formation of actin filaments is controlled by nucleating proteins such as the formins and Arp2/3 complex. Formin-mediated assembly results in straight filaments, whereas Arp2/3 protein complex-mediated assembly results in branched actin filaments.
Arp2/3 Complex
Arp2/3 complex is a seven-subunit complex consisting of two proteins similar to actin- Arp2 and Arp3, and five other subunits that help keep Arp2 and Arp3 inactive. When required, the complex is...
Assembly of Cytoskeletal Filaments01:18

Assembly of Cytoskeletal Filaments

Cytoskeletal filaments are polymeric forms of smaller protein subunits. However, individual cytoskeletal filaments may easily disassemble or associate with other similar filaments to form rigid structures. Microfilaments, made of actin monomers, rely on actin-binding proteins to form bundles and create networks of individual actin filaments. Microtubules rely on microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) to form sturdy cylindrical structures. However, the proteins involved in forming complex...
Formation of Higher-order Actin Filaments01:11

Formation of Higher-order Actin Filaments

The polymerization of G-actin monomers into filamentous F-actin is a multi-step process. Once the F-actins are formed, they can bundle together in different arrangements to form higher-order networks and regulate cellular functions. Common examples include the formation of lamellipodia and filopodia at the cell's leading edge by actin reorganization in a migrating cell. The microvilli on the brush border epithelial cells are also formed through the F-actin network.
The high-order actin networks...