Actin is required for cellular death
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Updated: May 11, 2026

Flow Cytometric Analysis of Apoptotic Biomarkers in Actinomycin D-Treated SiHa Cervical Cancer Cells
Published on: August 26, 2021
Dariusz Grzanka1, Maciej Gagat, Magdalena Izdebska
1Department of Clinical Pathomorphology, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, 9 Curie Skłodowska Street, 85-094 Bydgoszcz, Poland.
Abstract:
Actin is one of the most abundant cytoskeletal proteins, which takes part in many cellular processes. This review provides information on the history, forms and localization of actin and its role, in particular in cellular death processes. We discuss the relationships between reorganization of actin filaments and apoptosis, mitotic catastrophe and differentiation. Finally, we discuss the translocation and accumulation of actin in the nuclear area. Moreover, owing to the difficulties of F-actin localization by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), the phalloidin-based method of its detection using streptavidin-coated quantum dots is presented in this review.
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