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Updated: Aug 15, 2026

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In Vitro Polymerization of F-actin on Early Endosomes
Published on: August 28, 2017
Isolation and characterization of an actin-like protein from membranes of human red cells
British Journal of Haematology
|March 1, 1977
Abstract:
The existence of an actin-like protein in human red-cell membranes has been confirmed. The protein was extracted from acetone-treated ghosts and purified by (NH4)2SO4 fractionation. The protein undergoes G-F transformation and forms filaments in the presence of 0.1 M KCl. The filaments can be "decorated" by muscle heavy meromyosin. The protein has the same molecular weight as muscle actin and interacts with muscle myosin. All these properties show that the protein closely resembles muscle actin.
Related Concept Videos
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.
Actin Filament Depolymerization
Actin filaments (F-actin) are composed of actin subunits. The dissociation of actin monomers can occur from either end of F-actin. The rate of dissociation is faster from the minus-end or the pointed end, where the actin subunits exist with a bound ADP, together known as ADP-actin. The depolymerization of F-actin is aided by proteins, including the actin-depolymerizing factor (ADF) and cofilin family of proteins, gelsolin, and glia maturation factor (GMF).
In F-actin, the ADF/cofilin proteins...
In F-actin, the ADF/cofilin proteins...
Actin Polymerization and Cell Motility
Actin is a family of globular proteins that are highly abundant in eukaryotic cells. It makes up approximately 1-5% of total cell protein concentration. Actin monomers polymerize to form a complex network of polarized filaments, the actin cytoskeleton, that plays a crucial role in many cellular processes, including cell motility, division, endocytosis, and metastasis of cancer cells.
Actin cytoskeleton dynamics can produce pushing, pulling, and resistance forces that help the cell to migrate.
Actin cytoskeleton dynamics can produce pushing, pulling, and resistance forces that help the cell to migrate.

