Explain the structure of actin element?

1.	Explain the structure of actin element?
Answer» Actin monomers are called globular actin or G-actin. They are fairly globe-shaped in structure. At the right concentration of monomers, they can polymerize head to tail to form filamentous actin or F-actin. F-actin threads associate with each other in a thin double-helical structure. Because the G-actin monomers are arranged in the same orientation, actin filaments have two distinct ends. The ends are called plus (+) and minus (-). The plus end grows about 5-10 times faster than the minus end. The plus and minus ends are also important because motor proteins such as myosin move along the actin filament only in one direction. This is important in muscle contraction.

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