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What protein is found in microfilaments?

Published in Cellular Biology 1 min read

Microfilaments are primarily composed of the protein actin.

Understanding Microfilaments and Actin

Microfilaments, also known as actin filaments, are crucial components of the cytoskeleton in eukaryotic cells. The cytoskeleton provides structural support, facilitates cell movement, and plays a role in intracellular transport. Actin, the protein that forms microfilaments, is a globular protein that polymerizes to form long, thin filaments.

  • Structure: Microfilaments are helical polymers of actin monomers.
  • Function: They are involved in cell motility, cell shape maintenance, and muscle contraction.
  • Composition: As stated in the provided reference, microfilaments are mainly composed of actin.

Here's a table summarizing the key aspects:

Feature Description
Primary Protein Actin
Structure Helical polymer of actin monomers
Function Cell motility, cell shape maintenance, muscle contraction, intracellular transport
Cellular Location Cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells

Therefore, the main protein constituting microfilaments is indeed actin.