What does actin mean?

Definitions for actin
ˈæk tənactin

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word actin.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. actinnoun

    one of the proteins into which actomyosin can be split; can exist in either a globular or a fibrous form

Wiktionary

  1. actinnoun

    A globular structural protein that polymerizes in a helical fashion to form an actin filament (or microfilament).

  2. actinnoun

    One of the six isoforms of actin.

Wikipedia

  1. Actin

    Actin is a family of globular multi-functional proteins that form microfilaments in the cytoskeleton, and the thin filaments in muscle fibrils. It is found in essentially all eukaryotic cells, where it may be present at a concentration of over 100 μM; its mass is roughly 42 kDa, with a diameter of 4 to 7 nm. An actin protein is the monomeric subunit of two types of filaments in cells: microfilaments, one of the three major components of the cytoskeleton, and thin filaments, part of the contractile apparatus in muscle cells. It can be present as either a free monomer called G-actin (globular) or as part of a linear polymer microfilament called F-actin (filamentous), both of which are essential for such important cellular functions as the mobility and contraction of cells during cell division. Actin participates in many important cellular processes, including muscle contraction, cell motility, cell division and cytokinesis, vesicle and organelle movement, cell signaling, and the establishment and maintenance of cell junctions and cell shape. Many of these processes are mediated by extensive and intimate interactions of actin with cellular membranes. In vertebrates, three main groups of actin isoforms, alpha, beta, and gamma have been identified. The alpha actins, found in muscle tissues, are a major constituent of the contractile apparatus. The beta and gamma actins coexist in most cell types as components of the cytoskeleton, and as mediators of internal cell motility. It is believed that the diverse range of structures formed by actin enabling it to fulfill such a large range of functions is regulated through the binding of tropomyosin along the filaments.A cell's ability to dynamically form microfilaments provides the scaffolding that allows it to rapidly remodel itself in response to its environment or to the organism's internal signals, for example, to increase cell membrane absorption or increase cell adhesion in order to form cell tissue. Other enzymes or organelles such as cilia can be anchored to this scaffolding in order to control the deformation of the external cell membrane, which allows endocytosis and cytokinesis. It can also produce movement either by itself or with the help of molecular motors. Actin therefore contributes to processes such as the intracellular transport of vesicles and organelles as well as muscular contraction and cellular migration. It therefore plays an important role in embryogenesis, the healing of wounds, and the invasivity of cancer cells. The evolutionary origin of actin can be traced to prokaryotic cells, which have equivalent proteins. Actin homologs from prokaryotes and archaea polymerize into different helical or linear filaments consisting of one or multiple strands. However the in-strand contacts and nucleotide binding sites are preserved in prokaryotes and in archaea. Lastly, actin plays an important role in the control of gene expression. A large number of illnesses and diseases are caused by mutations in alleles of the genes that regulate the production of actin or of its associated proteins. The production of actin is also key to the process of infection by some pathogenic microorganisms. Mutations in the different genes that regulate actin production in humans can cause muscular diseases, variations in the size and function of the heart as well as deafness. The make-up of the cytoskeleton is also related to the pathogenicity of intracellular bacteria and viruses, particularly in the processes related to evading the actions of the immune system.

ChatGPT

  1. actin

    Actin is a protein that is found in all eukaryotic cells, playing a critical role in many cellular processes, including muscle contraction, cell division, cytoplasmic streaming, vesicle and organelle movement, cell signaling, and the maintenance of cell shape and structure. It is one of the two main components of the cytoskeleton, acting as the basic structural framework of the cell.

Wikidata

  1. Actin

    Actin is a globular multi-functional protein that forms microfilaments. It is found in all eukaryotic cells, where it may be present at concentrations of over 100 μM. Actin is roughly 42-kDa in size and it is the monomeric subunit of two types of filaments in cells: microfilaments, one of the three major components of the cytoskeleton, and thin filaments, part of the contractile apparatus in muscle cells. It can be present as either a free monomer called G-actin or as part of a linear polymer microfilament called F-actin both of which are essential for such important cellular functions as the mobility and contraction of cells during cell division. Thus, actin participates in many important cellular processes, including muscle contraction, cell motility, cell division and cytokinesis, vesicle and organelle movement, cell signalling, and the establishment and maintenance of cell junctions and cell shape. Many of these processes are mediated by extensive and intimate interactions of actin with cellular membranes. In vertebrates, three main groups of actin isoforms, alpha, beta, and gamma have been identified. The alpha actins, found in muscle tissues, are a major constituent of the contractile apparatus. The beta and gamma actins coexist in most cell types as components of the cytoskeleton, and as mediators of internal cell motility.

Editors Contribution

  1. actin

    A form of protein.

    Actin is a form of protein present in the body of a human being


    Submitted by MaryC on December 26, 2020  

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Anagrams for actin »

  1. antic

  2. can it

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Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of actin in Chaldean Numerology is: 5

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of actin in Pythagorean Numerology is: 2

Popularity rank by frequency of use

actin#10000#21989#100000

Translations for actin

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"actin." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 19 Mar. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/actin>.

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