Actin is one of the most widespread proteins in eukaryotic cells. This book and its companion (Molecular Interactions of Actin. Actin-Myosin Interaction, Actin-Based Regulation) provide an authoritative and opinionated view of the structure and function of this essential protein. Each section includes an historical perspective and a detailed commentary on actin protein chemistry, molecular and cell biology of actin. While some chapters review the body of knowledge of the subject, others contain new experimental data.
This book will appeal to research scientists seeking contemporary overviews of actin and its binding proteins. Contributors include senior scientists as well as the new breed of younger scientists.

Inhalt

An Overview of Actin Structure and Actin-Binding Proteins.- An Historical Perspective of Actin Assembly and Its Interactios.- Divalent Cations, Nucleotides and Actin Structure.- The Helical Parameters of F-Actin Precisely Determined From X-Ray Fiber Diffraction of Well-Oriented Sols.- Analysis of Models of F-Actin Using Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer Spectroscopy.- Microscopic Analysis of Polymerization and Fragmentation of Individual Actin Filaments.- Two Conformations of G-Actin Related to Two Conformations of F-Actin.- Actin Structure Function Relationships Revealed by Yeast Molecular Genetics.- Actin-Binding Proteins: An Overview.- The ADF/Cofilin Familiy: Accelerators of Actin Reorganization.-Predicting Interaction Sites Between Glycolytic Enzymes and Cytoskeletal Proteins Employing the Concepts of the Molecular Recognition Theory.- Regulation of the Cytoskeleton Assembly: a Role For a Ternary Complex of Actin With Two Actin-Binding Proteins.- Actin Filament Networks.- Structure and Function of Gelsolin.- Arps: Actin-Related Proteins.- Control of the Actin Cytoskeleton by Extracellular Signals.-