3 articles
Actin
Actin: conserved eukaryotic cytoskeletal protein; G-actin monomers polymerize into F-actin filaments with ATP-driven treadmilling. Six mammalian isoforms (ACTA1, ACTA2, ACTB, ACTC1, ACTG1, ACTG2) have distinct tissue roles; mutations cause myopathies.
Microfilament
Microfilament, also called actin filament or F-actin: ~7 nm cytoskeletal filament of two actin protofilaments in a right-handed helix; treadmilling, ATP-driven assembly, nucleators like Arp2/3 and formins, roles in motility and cytokinesis.
Microvillus
Microvillus (plural microvilli): actin-supported finger-like projection from an animal cell surface; intestinal brush border has ~1,000 per cell, boosting absorptive area; defects cause microvillus inclusion disease (MYO5B).