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AAT Bioquest

Why is phalloidin used in experiments that study actin?

Posted February 19, 2020


Answer

Phalloidin binds preferentially to actin filaments than to actin monomers, decreasing the rate constant for the dissociation of actin subunits from filament ends. This trait of phalloidin stabilizes actin filaments by preventing depolymerization. 

Additional resources

Actin Structures and Filaments