A protein found in muscle and other cells that, along with myosin, is responsible for muscle contraction and various cellular movements. One of the most abundant proteins in many eukaryotic cells.
Named in 1942 by Hungarian biochemist Bruno Straub, from Latin 'actum' (something done or performed) plus the suffix '-in' common in protein names, reflecting its role in cellular action and movement.
Actin filaments are so fundamental to life that they're found in virtually every eukaryotic cell, not just muscles - they help maintain cell shape, enable cell division, and even help some bacteria move around by hijacking the host's actin system. The protein is so evolutionarily conserved that human actin is nearly identical to actin in many other species.
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