Definition
The actin cytoskeleton is a network of actin and actin binding proteins that together with the other components of the cytoskeleton such as microtubules and intermediate filaments is responsible for essential cellular processes like cell migration, axonal growth, phagocytosis, cytoplasmic streaming and organelle transport (1, 2). It was first isolated as a part of the actomyosin complex from muscle cells. Actin was subsequently identified in all eukaryotic cells. Its most characteristic feature is the reversible polymerization of globular actin monomers (G-actin) into filaments (F-actin) that build either a relatively permanent structure as in sarcomeres of fully differentiated muscle cells or, in nearly all other cell types, a continuously restructured filamentous meshwork. Given its role in many essential cellular processes, the amino acid sequence of actin is highly conserved throughout evolution. Deletion of the single actin gene in yeast is lethal. In many other...
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsReferences
Pollard TD, Borisy GG (2003) Cellular motility driven by assembly and disassembly of actin filaments. Cell 112:453–65
Engqvist-Goldstein AE, Drubin DG (2003) Actin assembly and endocytosis: from yeast to mammals. Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol 19:287–332
Noegel AA, Schleicher M (2000) The actin cytoskeleton of Dictyostelium: a story told by mutants. J Cell Sci 113:759–66
Kreis T, Vale R (1999) Guidebook to the Cytoskeletal and Motor Proteins. A Sambrook & Tooze Publication at Oxford University Press
dos Remedios CG, Chhabra D, Kekic M et al (2003) Actin binding proteins: regulation of cytoskeletal microfilaments. Physiol Rev 83:433–73
Carlier MF, Le Clainche C, Wiesner S et al (2003) Actin-based motility: from molecules to movement. Bioessays 25:336–45
Barbieri JT, Riese MJ, Aktories K (2002) Bacterial toxins that modify the actin cytoskeleton. Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol 18:315–44
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2006 Springer-Verlag
About this entry
Cite this entry
Arasada, R., Schleicher, M. (2006). Actin Cytoskeleton. In: Encyclopedic Reference of Genomics and Proteomics in Molecular Medicine. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg . https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-29623-9_2960
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-29623-9_2960
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-44244-8
Online ISBN: 978-3-540-29623-2
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesReference Module Biomedical and Life Sciences