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AAT Bioquest

Do microfilaments have polarity?

Posted November 4, 2022


Answer

Yes, microfilaments have polarity. Microfilaments are solid rods composed of a protein called actin. When actin subunits come together to form microfilaments, they interact directionally. All are connected in such a way that they all have the same orientation, where the top of one subunit always interacts with the bottom of another. This results in the two ends of the microfilament being distinctly different. Hence it exhibits polarity. However, this is only in the sense of having directionality. It is not related in any way to electrical charge. 

Additional resources

Cell Navigator® F-Actin Labeling Kit *Red Fluorescence*

Phalloidin-iFluor® 488 Conjugate

Direct Determination of Actin Polarity in the Cell