Actin Definition
ăktĭn
noun
A protein found in muscle that together with myosin functions in muscle contraction.
American Heritage
A protein in muscles.
Webster's New World
A protein that forms the microfilaments of the eukaryotic cytoskeleton and plays an important role in cell movement, shape, and internal organization. In muscle cells, it functions with myosin to produce contraction.
American Heritage Medicine
(biochemistry, uncountable) A globular structural protein that polymerizes in a helical fashion to form an actin filament (microfilament).
Wiktionary
(biochemistry, countable) One of the six isoforms of actin.
Wiktionary
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Actinal.
Webster's New World
other
A protein found in all eukaryotic cells, forming filaments that make up a main component of the cell's supporting matrix or cytoskeleton . Actin and the protein myosin together make up the contractile units (called sarcomeres ) of skeletal muscle fibers.
American Heritage Science
Other Word Forms of Actin
Noun
Singular:
actin
Plural:
actinsOrigin of Actin
From Ancient Greek ἀκτίς (aktis, “ray”), based on the shape of the filament formed, and the English chemical suffix -in.
From Wiktionary
-
Latin āctus motion act –in
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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