ACTA2
Encyclopedia
Alpha-actin-2 also known as actin, aortic smooth muscle or alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA, SMactin, alpha-SM-actin, ASMA) is a protein
that in humans is encoded by the ACTA2 gene
located on 10q22-q24.
Actin alpha 2, the human aortic smooth muscle actin gene, is one of six different actin
isoforms which have been identified. Actins are highly conserved proteins that are involved in cell motility, structure and integrity. Alpha actins are a major constituent of the contractile
apparatus.
Alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) is commonly used as a marker of myofibroblast
formation (Nagamoto et al., 2000).
Protein
Proteins are biochemical compounds consisting of one or more polypeptides typically folded into a globular or fibrous form, facilitating a biological function. A polypeptide is a single linear polymer chain of amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of...
that in humans is encoded by the ACTA2 gene
Gene
A gene is a molecular unit of heredity of a living organism. It is a name given to some stretches of DNA and RNA that code for a type of protein or for an RNA chain that has a function in the organism. Living beings depend on genes, as they specify all proteins and functional RNA chains...
located on 10q22-q24.
Actin alpha 2, the human aortic smooth muscle actin gene, is one of six different actin
Actin
Actin is a globular, roughly 42-kDa moonlighting protein found in all eukaryotic cells where it may be present at concentrations of over 100 μM. It is also one of the most highly-conserved proteins, differing by no more than 20% in species as diverse as algae and humans...
isoforms which have been identified. Actins are highly conserved proteins that are involved in cell motility, structure and integrity. Alpha actins are a major constituent of the contractile
Contractility
Myocardial contractility is the intrinsic ability of the heart to contract independent of preload and afterload. Changes in the ability to produce force during contraction result from different degrees of binding between myosin and actin filaments...
apparatus.
Alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) is commonly used as a marker of myofibroblast
Myofibroblast
A Myofibroblast is a cell that is in between a fibroblast and a smooth muscle cell in differentiation.-Developmental origin:There are many possible ways of myofibroblast development:#Partial smooth muscle differentiation of a fibroblastic cell...
formation (Nagamoto et al., 2000).