Actin meaning
A protein found in muscle that together with myosin functions in muscle contraction.
noun
A protein in muscles.
noun
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.
noun
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.
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(biochemistry, uncountable) A globular structural protein that polymerizes in a helical fashion to form an actin filament (microfilament).
noun
Origin of actin
- Latin āctus motion act –in
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
- From Ancient Greek ἀκτίς (aktis, “ray”), based on the shape of the filament formed, and the English chemical suffix -in.
From Wiktionary