A highly conserved, abundant protein found in practically all eukaryotic cells, actin is a monomeric subunit of skeletal muscle thin filaments, and cytoskeleton microfilaments. Actin antibody products are routinely used in cell marker and loading control assays. However, actin antibody reagents are also used for cytoskeleton, cell motility, cytokinesis and cell signalling research. Our antibody catalog covers all the actin isoforms, with an extensive range of alpha, beta and gamma actin antibody products.
Actin antibody studies have revealed polymerization and depolymerization of actin to be essential to chemotaxis (cell motility) and cytokinesis (cell division). Polymerization is dependent upon nucleating factors such as ARP and the formin protein family. The Arp1/2 complex has been widely studied by actin antibody researchers. The Arp1 and 2 proteins mimic the structure of monomeric actin, forming a complex which serves as a nucleation site for new microfilaments. The formins are, like actin, highly conserved proteins involved in actin remodeling, cellular morphology and coordination of microtubule and actin dynamics.
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Recent actin antibody research has identified several cellular factors which modulate formin expression to affect actin nucleation and elongation. Formins with cellular functions apart from actin polymerization have also been discovered. Recent additions to the formin nucleator database include Cordon-Bleu, Cappuccino, Leiomodin and Spire. In addition, several proteins have been identified which stimulate ARP2/3 activity to affect actin nucleation and dynamics. These include WASH (the WASP and SCAR homologue); WHAMM (WASP homologue associated with actin, membranes and microtubules) and the junction-mediating regulatory protein JMY.
Actin antibody research continues to uncover new genetic facts about actin polymerization and the cytoskeleton. We at Novus Biologicals have an extensive antibody catalog covering this area of research.
Novus Biologicals offers many Actin reagents for your research needs including:
