Microfilament

Microfilaments, also called actin

filaments, are polymers of the protein
actin that are part of
a cell’s cytoskeleton.
These are the smallest filaments of the
cytoskeleton
And have roles in cell
movement, muscle contraction
and cell division.
 General properties

 Composed of actin
 Present in all eukaryotic cells
 Slender, rod shaped
 Average diameter of 5nm
 Flexible and strong
 Helps in cell adhesion and
cell movement
 Formation

 Freely dispersed monomers

 G actin firstly forms a trimer
 Formin proteins
 It has a barbed or + end and pointed end or – end
 Grows either end,+ end faster
 G actin binds ATP
 weaker bond
 G ADP promotes depolymerization
 When rate of dissociation is equalized to
rate of addition, phenomena is called
tread milling.

• Bundle format
• Contractile actin bundles
• Branched format,actin network
Location
In non muscle cells:
 scattered in cytoplasm
 Abundant in cell cortex(beneath cell membrane)
In muscle cells:
 aligned with myosin and their interaction results in contraction of
muscles.
 Functions
Uses ABPs to perform various functions i.e. myosin,a-actinin,b-spectrin,fimbrin,villin,etc
 Binds to the intrinsic proteins of membrane to anchor them
 Contribute to the contraction of muscles
 Forms structural core of microvilli
 Takes part in cell division-cleavage furrow
 Changes cell shape