What Are the Functional Differences Between Actin Isoforms?
The functional differences among actin isoforms are mainly due to their distinct amino acid sequences, which confer unique properties:
- α-skeletal actin: Predominantly found in skeletal muscle cells, involved in muscle contraction. - α-cardiac actin: Specific to cardiac muscle cells, crucial for heart contraction. - α-smooth actin: Found in smooth muscle cells, essential for smooth muscle contraction. - β-cytoplasmic actin: Ubiquitously expressed in non-muscle cells, involved in various cellular functions such as motility and structure. - γ-smooth actin: Also found in smooth muscle cells, functions similarly to α-smooth actin but with unique regulatory roles. - γ-cytoplasmic actin: Present in non-muscle cells and involved in cell motility and maintenance of the cytoskeleton.
