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AAT Bioquest

How do actin filaments form?

Posted November 4, 2022


Answer

Actin filament is formed by the assembly of identical actin monomers called globular-actin (g-actin). During the assembly, g-actin monomers are arranged in long spiral polymer strands. Two strands twist around each other in a double helix conformation to form an actin filament. The g-actin monomers occur at repeat distances of about 36 nm.  

Additional resources

Mechanism of synergistic actin filament pointed end depolymerization by cyclase-associated protein and cofilin

Phalloidin-iFluor® 488 Conjugate

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