title: Actin: from structural plasticity to functional diversity.
abstract: This article addresses the multiple activities of actin. Starting out with the history of actin's discovery, purification and structure, it emphasizes the close relation between structure and function. In this context, we also point to unconventional actin conformations. Their existence in living cells is not yet well documented, however, they seem to play a special role in the supramolecular patterning that underlies some of the physiological functions of actin. Conceivably, such conformations may contribute to actin's diverse activities in the nucleus that are poorly understood so far.
authors.affiliation: M. E. Mueller Institute for Structural Biology, Biozentrum, University of Basel, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Cora-Ann
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Schoenenberger
authors.forename: Hans Georg
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Mannherz
authors.forename: Brigitte M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Jockusch
mesh_terms: D008841:Actin Cytoskeleton / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000199:Actins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008958:Models, Molecular; D011487:Protein Conformation; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D021381:Protein Transport
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D020033:Protein Isoforms