Biology 2382B Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Phosphate, Membrane Protein, Step One
6 Apr 2018
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Document Summary
Actin filaments are a component of the cytoskeleton. Involved in cell signalling, when the signal enters the cell one of the first things it will interact with is actin filaments. Actin is also associated with cell shape and cell movement. Actin forms networks and bundles, unlike microtubules which can only form linear structures and tend to work independently of each other. A(cid:272)ti(cid:374) (cid:272)a(cid:374) fo(cid:396)(cid:373) (cid:271)(cid:396)a(cid:374)(cid:272)hi(cid:374)g (cid:374)et(cid:449)o(cid:396)ks (cid:449)hi(cid:272)h (cid:373)i(cid:272)(cid:396)otu(cid:271)ules (cid:272)a(cid:374)"t do. Can be involved in cell migration or moving things around within the cell. Structurally, it is made of this globular molecule called g-actin. Almost symmetrical but on one side of it there is an atp binding cleft. Cleft almost gives a sort of polarity. This monomer g-actin polymerizes into a molecule called f-actin. All of the monomers are oriented with the atp binding cleft on the same side. Double helical structure rotates 36nm each turn. The f-actin microfilament is polar, and has a plus and a minus end.
