actin

See also: actin' and actin-

English

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ἀκτίς (aktís, “ray”), based on the shape of the filament formed, and the English chemical suffix -in.

Noun

actin (countable and uncountable, plural actins)

1. (biochemistry, uncountable) A globular structural protein that polymerizes in a helical fashion to form an actin filament (or microfilament).
   • 2012, Elaine N. Marieb & Katja Hoehn, Human Anatomy & Physiology, 8th ed., chapter 9 "Muscles and Muscle Tissue", page 281.

     Actin has kidney-shaped polypeptide subunits, called globular actin or G actin, which bear the active sites to which the myosin heads attach during contraction.

2. (biochemistry, countable) One of the six isoforms of actin.

Derived terms

• actinic
• actomyosin
• fibroactin
• isoactin

Translations

a globular structural protein

• Catalan: actina f
• French: actine (fr)
• Italian: actina (it)

• Portuguese: actina f
• Spanish: actina (es)
• Swedish: aktin (sv)

See also

• conductin
• myosin

Anagrams

• antic, cain't, can it