Actin beta (HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee abbreviation ''ACTB''/ACTB) is one of six different
actin
Actin is a family of globular multi-functional proteins that form microfilaments in the cytoskeleton, and the thin filaments in muscle fibrils. It is found in essentially all eukaryotic cells, where it may be present at a concentration of ...
isoforms which have been identified in humans. This is one of the two nonmuscle
cytoskeletal
The cytoskeleton is a complex, dynamic network of interlinking protein filaments present in the cytoplasm of all Cell (biology), cells, including those of bacteria and archaea. In eukaryotes, it extends from the cell nucleus to the cell membrane ...
actins. Actins are highly conserved proteins
that are involved in cell motility, structure and integrity. Alpha actins are a major constituent of the contractile apparatus.
Interactions
Actin beta has been shown to
interact with
SPTBN2
Spectrin beta chain, brain 2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''SPTBN2'' gene
In biology, the word gene has two meanings. The Mendelian gene is a basic unit of heredity. The molecular gene is a sequence of nucleotides in DNA th ...
.
In addition,
RNA-binding protein
RNA-binding proteins (often abbreviated as RBPs) are proteins that bind to the double or single stranded RNA in cell (biology), cells and participate in forming ribonucleoprotein complexes.
RBPs contain various structural motifs, such as RNA reco ...
Sam68 was found to interact with the mRNA encoding actin beta, which regulates the synaptic formation of the dendritic spines with its cytoskeletal components.
Actin beta has been shown to activate
eNOS, thereby increasing NO production. An eight-amino acid motif (326-333) in eNOS has been shown to mediate the interaction between actin and eNOS.
Clinical relevance
Recurrent mutations in this gene have been associated to cases of
diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.
mutations in this gene is associated with
Baraitser-Winter syndrome.
Applications
Actin beta is often used in
Western blotting as a
loading control, to normalize total protein amounts and check for eventual protein degradation in the samples. Its transcript is also commonly used as a housekeeping gene standard in
qPCR. Its molecular weight is approximately 42 kDa.
References
External links
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Further reading
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See also
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Actin
Actin is a family of globular multi-functional proteins that form microfilaments in the cytoskeleton, and the thin filaments in muscle fibrils. It is found in essentially all eukaryotic cells, where it may be present at a concentration of ...
*
ACTA1
Actin, alpha skeletal muscle is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''ACTA1'' gene.
Actin alpha 1 which is expressed in skeletal muscle is one of six different actin isoforms which have been identified. Actins are highly conserved proteins ...
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