Microfilaments or actin filaments
Structure and composition of microfilaments
Microfilaments are the finest filaments. They are thin and flexible fibers formed by the actin protein.
Actin filaments are the main components of the cytoskeleton of muscle cells, although they are not exclusive to them.
In addition to the actin protein, microfilaments have other associated proteins:
- Structural proteins. They join several actin filaments into bundles.
- Regulatory proteins. For example, myosin, which together with actin intervenes in muscle contraction.