Isolation and Characterization of an Actin-like Protein from Membranes of Human Red Cells

Abstract

The existence of an actin-like protein in human red-cell membranes was confirmed. The protein was extracted from acetone-treated ghosts and purified by (NH4)2SO4 fractionation. The protein undergoes G-F transformation and forms filaments in the presence of 0.1 M KCl. The filaments can be decorated by muscle heavy meromyosin. The protein has the same MW as muscle actin and interacts with muscle myosin. All these properties show that the protein closely resembles muscle actin.