Description
Key facts
Sample types:Tissue, Suspension cells, Adherent cells,
Assay type:Cell-based (qualitative),
Assay Platform:Fluorescence microscope
Product details:
F-actin Staining Kit - Green Fluorescence | Cytopainter (ab112125) fluorescence imaging kits are a set of fluorescence imaging tools for labeling sub-cellular organelles such as lysosomes, mitochondria, and actin filaments. The selective staining of cell compartments provides a powerful method for studying cellular events in a spatial and temporal context.
ab112125 is designed to stain F-actins in fixed cells with green fluorescence. The kit uses a green fluorescent phalloidin conjugate that is selectively bound to F-actins. This green fluorescent phalloidin conjugate is a high-affinity probe for F-actins. When used at nanomolar concentrations, phallotoxins are convenient probes for labeling, identifying and quantitating F-actins in formaldehyde-fixed and permeabilized tissue sections, cell cultures or cell-free experiments.
ab112125 provides all the essential components with an optimized staining protocol, which is robust requiring minimal hands-on time. It is an excellent tool for preserving the fluorescent images of particular cells. The phalloidin conjugate has spectral properties similar to those of FITC (Ex/Em = 500/520 nm). It can also be used for fluorescence microscope demonstrations using FITC filter (Ex/Em = 490/525 nm).
ab112125 should be stored dessicated.
Properties and Storage Information:
Shipped at conditions-Blue Ice, Appropriate short-term storage conditions--20°C, Appropriate long-term storage conditions--20°C, Storage information--20°C
Supplementary Information:
This supplementary information is collated from multiple sources and compiled automatically.
F-actin also known as filamentous actin is an essential structural protein found within the cytoskeleton of eukaryotic cells. Its alternate names include actin filaments or microfilaments. The protein consists of polymerized monomers of G-actin each with a molecular weight of roughly 42 kDa. F-actin is expressed abundantly in muscle cells and non-muscle cells alike providing structural support and facilitating cellular movements. Actin staining is a common method used in labs to visualize these dynamic structures often employing phalloidin staining a toxin that stabilizes actin filaments conjugated with fluorescent labels such as Phalloidin 594 Phalloidin 647 or Phalloidin 488 for imaging purposes.
Biological function summary
The actin cytoskeleton plays integral roles in maintaining cell shape providing mechanical resistance against deformation and driving important cellular processes such as endocytosis cell division and motility. F-actin forms part of numerous protein complexes interacting with other proteins like myosin to facilitate muscle contraction and cellular transport. Within cells F-actin is dynamic readily polymerizing and depolymerizing in response to cellular signaling making it essential for cytoskeletal remodeling and cellular adaptability.
Pathways
F-actin is central to various signaling cascades underlying processes like cell signaling and intracellular transport. Notably it participates in the Rho family GTPase pathway affecting cell cytoskeleton organization and motility. It also interacts with proteins like cofilin and profilin which regulate actin polymerization and treadmilling dynamics respectively. These interactions highlight F-actin's involvement in complex cellular pathway regulation processes essential for maintaining cellular homeostasis and adaptability.
Abnormal regulation or mutations in actin-related proteins can lead to conditions such as cancer and cardiomyopathies. For example during metastasis cancer cells exploit the dynamic nature of F-actin for enhanced migratory capacity. In cardiac muscle cells actin interacts with other proteins like tropomyosin and mutations in these genes can disrupt normal heart function leading to cardiomyopathies. As such F-actin not only represents a critical component of the cellular structure but also serves as a pivotal target for understanding disease mechanisms and potential therapeutic intervention points.
