Adoptable Conformation of Actin Molecules

Abstract

Actin plays a variety of roles in eukaryotic cells. To understand the roles of actin and its working mechanisms at the molecular level, it is essential to know the structure of actin. To date, more than 200 actin structures have been elucidated. Using these structures, adoptable conformations of actin are discussed. Actin conformations were classified into four groups: G-form, F-form, C-form and O-form. G-form is a stable conformation, and actin that adopts G-form is rarely converted to C-form or F-form. C-form is unstable and swiftly converted to G-form, and F-form is semi-stable with a barrier between itself and G-form.