ACTIN - FROM CELL BIOLOGY TO ATOMIC DETAIL

Over the past 2 decades our knowledge about actin filaments has evolve d from a rigid ''pearls on a string'' model to that of a complex, high ly dynamic protein polymer which can now be analysed at atomic detail, To achieve this, exploring actin's oligomerization, polymerization, p olymorphism, and dynamic behavior has been crucial to understanding in detail how this abundant and ubiquitous protein can fulfill its vario us functions within living cells. In this review, a correlative view o f a number of distinct aspects of actin is presented, and the function al implications of recent structural, biochemical, and mechanical data are critically evaluated, Rational analysis of these various experime ntal data is achieved using an integrated structural approach which co mbines intermediate-resolution electron microscopy-based 3-D reconstru ctions of entire actin filaments with atomic resolution X-ray data of monomeric and polymeric actin. (C) 1997 Academic Press.