New understanding of actin filament growth in cells Date: July 29, 2013 Source: University of Oregon Summary: Biochemists have determined how tiny synthetic molecules disrupt an important actin ...

University of Oregon biochemists have determined how tiny synthetic molecules disrupt an important actin-related molecular machine in cells in one study and, in a second one, the crystal structure ...

Actin filaments are dynamic protein-fibers in the cell built from single actin proteins. Many cellular functions, including cell movement, are regulated by constant filament assembly and disassembly.

They play a leading role not only in muscle cells. Actin filaments are one of the most abundant proteins in all mammalian cells. The filigree structures form an important part of the cytoskeleton ...

Actin filaments can be stabilized by distinct so-called "capping" proteins that bind to the filament ends to stop further addition or loss of individual actin proteins.

Actin filaments were found to be present in phragmoplasts about 35 years ago, and a lot of research has been done since then, but there appears to be no report on this phenomenon," said Dr. Higaki.

A research team reveals a critical cellular mechanism that enables this navigation: the dynamic remodeling of actin filaments at the tip of pollen ...

This is especially true for "thin filaments" - tiny filamentous structures made up of proteins called actin, troponin, and tropomyosin - owing to their complex interactions and small size.

Actin filaments — protein structures critical to living movement from single cells to animals — have long been known to have polarity associated with their physical characteristics, with growing ...