Actin can exist in two forms: Globular subunit (G-actin) and Filamentous polymer (F-actin). Both forms of actin interact with a plethora of proteins in the cell. To date there are over 50 distinct classes of Actin-Binding Proteins (ABPs), and the inventory is still far from complete. Actin Binding Proteins allow the actin cytoskeleton to respond rapidly to cellular and extracellular signals and are integral to cytoskeletal involvement in many cellular processes. These include cell shape and motility, muscle contraction, intracellular trafficking, cell pathogenesis and signal transduction.

In the coming weeks I’d like to give you an overview of methods in actin research with validated R&D products and kits (actin polymerisation, and G-F actin ratio detection in cells); I also invite you to take a look at a post recently released about actin visualization: Focus on Actin staining and visualization.

In today’s post, let’s concentrate on a method which allows measuring actin binding capabilities of proteins of interest. But it’s not only about the simple fact that a given protein is binding to actin, with the method presented here, you’re also able to get an idea of the functionality of the protein – be it F-actin bundling activity, F-actin severing activity or G-actin binding activity.