Biology / Unit 2 Bio 0299 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Microfilaments
Captions available
The idea
Microfilaments are the cytoskeleton's narrowest fibers, built from two intertwined actin strands, and function in cellular movement and shape.
In practice
Actin filaments track the motor protein myosin; sliding actin and myosin past each other makes a muscle cell contract.
Where people slip
A student may assume actin filaments exist only in muscle; every eukaryotic cell relies on microfilaments for shape and movement, not muscle alone.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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