ACTIN MONOMER Meaning and
Definition
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An actin monomer, also referred to as G-actin, is the individual subunit or building block of the actin filament, which is a crucial component of the cytoskeleton present in eukaryotic cells. Actin monomers are globular proteins that possess a molecular weight of approximately 42 kilodaltons. They play a fundamental role in various cellular functions such as cell motility, cell division, intracellular transport, and maintenance of cell shape.
Actin monomers possess a highly conserved structure consisting of a core domain and a variable domain. The core domain comprises around 375 amino acid residues and is characterized by its four distinct subdomains while the variable domain is involved in actin monomer polymerization. These monomers can exist in two states: the polymerization-competent form (G-actin) and the polymerized form (F-actin), which are in equilibrium with each other.
The polymerization process of actin monomers is regulated by a variety of cellular factors, such as ATP, calcium ions, actin-binding proteins, and actin polymerization nucleators. In the presence of ATP, actin monomers undergo conformational changes, promoting their assembly into linear or helical filaments called F-actin. This assembly can be either in a dynamic or stable state, depending on the cell's requirements.
Overall, actin monomers are essential components for cellular processes that involve the cytoskeleton, providing structural support, orchestrating cellular movements, and facilitating the maintenance of cellular organization. Their dynamic nature and interactions with various cellular factors make them highly versatile and crucial for many essential biological processes.
Common Misspellings for ACTIN MONOMER
- zctin monomer
- sctin monomer
- wctin monomer
- qctin monomer
- axtin monomer
- avtin monomer
- aftin monomer
- adtin monomer
- acrin monomer
- acfin monomer
- acgin monomer
- acyin monomer
- ac6in monomer
- ac5in monomer
- actun monomer
- actjn monomer
- actkn monomer
- acton monomer
- act9n monomer
- act8n monomer
Etymology of ACTIN MONOMER
The term "actin monomer" consists of two components: "actin" and "monomer".
1. Actin: The word "actin" is derived from the Greek word "aktis", which means "ray" or "spindle-shaped". The term was first used in the late 19th century by German scientist Wilhelm F. Waldeyer, who identified and named actin as the main protein responsible for muscle contraction.
2. Monomer: The term "monomer" is derived from the Greek word "monos", meaning "single" or "alone", and the suffix "-mer", which refers to a unit or part. Monomers are the individual units that can join together to form a polymer. In the case of actin, it refers to the individual, single subunit of the protein.
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