BIO 361 Lecture Notes - Lecture 17: Leading Edge, Neutrophil, Treadmilling
10 Jul 2016
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Document Summary
Non-muscle actin can be found in most cells where it acts as a cytoskeleton component and facilitates changes in cell shape. The actin described in actinomyosin complex is not the only actin that you find. There are many actins in the cytoskeleton of most cells (non-muscle actin) that are critical for shape change. The polymerization of g-actin monomers is not a random association, but associate in an oriented fashion in a positive and a negative end to the f-actin polymer. G-actin binds atp as well as myosin heads. Unlike the binding of atp to myosin heads, which is associated with re-orientation of those heads, the binding of atp to g-actin monomers determines the polarity of the entire microfilament. G-actin with atp bound only associates with one end of the microfilament. As the g-actin monomers associate with the microfilament, atp is hydrolyzed.
