microfilaments
Tiny protein threads
Microfilaments are the thinnest protein filaments in cells, made primarily of actin.
They form part of the cytoskeleton—the internal scaffolding that gives cells their shape and enables movement.
Microfilaments contract muscles, help cells crawl and divide, and move materials within the cell.
Microfilaments are essential for cell motility.
actin
Cellular contractile protein
- myosinMotor protein enabling contraction
- troponinMuscle regulatory protein complex
- Z-discSarcomere boundary structure
- power strokeCombustion-driven piston movement
structure
Hollow cellular protein structures
- stress fibersContractile actin-myosin bundles in cells
- meshworkInterlaced strand structure
- scaffoldingTemporary exterior work platform
- anchorageSecure harbor spot
motility
Disrupting a smooth surface
- contractilityAbility to shorten actively
- cytokinesisCytoplasmic division after mitosis
- chemotaxisMovement toward chemical cues
- pathfindingCalculating efficient travel routes
muscle
Fibers tensing and shortening
- cardiac muscleHeart wall tissue
- skeletal muscleVoluntary movement tissue
- smooth muscleInvoluntary contractile tissue
- muscle fiberContractile cell in tissue
function
Parent splitting into offspring
- endocytosisCell engulfs external material
- exocytosisVesicular release from cells
- phagocytosisCellular ingestion of particles
- morphogenesisDevelopmental shape emergence
actin
Cellular contractile protein
microtubules
Hollow cellular protein structures
- stress fibersContractile actin-myosin bundles in cells
- meshworkInterlaced strand structure
- scaffoldingTemporary exterior work platform
ruffling
Disrupting a smooth surface
- contractilityAbility to shorten actively
- cytokinesisCytoplasmic division after mitosis
- chemotaxisMovement toward chemical cues
muscle contraction
Fibers tensing and shortening
- cardiac muscleHeart wall tissue
- skeletal muscleVoluntary movement tissue
- smooth muscleInvoluntary contractile tissue
muscle fiber · muscle tone · muscle fatigue · contraction · relaxation
cell division
Parent splitting into offspring
- endocytosisCell engulfs external material
- exocytosisVesicular release from cells
- phagocytosisCellular ingestion of particles
- actinactin
- cell motilityactin, microtubule, flagella, cilia, chemotaxis
- microstructuresmitochondria, ribosomes, lysosomes, centrioles, vacuoles
- protein fiberscollagen, keratin, elastin, actin, myosin
- Cell Organellesmitochondria, mitochondrion, ribosome, ribosomes, lysosome
- cell partsnucleus, cytoplasm, mitochondria, ribosomes, cell membrane