INTRODUCTION
The topic # 1. Actin history.
It is commonly accepted that actin was discovered by Straub (1942).
Straub, who was working in
Szent-Györgyi's laboratory extracted myosin A
(now know as myosin) from fresh muscle and from the residue left over he
isolated a new protein. This new protein when added to myosin A formed a
highly viscous solution, similarly to what was known for myosin B (now
known as actomyosin). Thus, Straub provided evidence that his new
protein activated myosin A and therefore, called it actin.
But in 46 years Finck (1968) found Halliburton's paper of 1887. In this
study protein was isolated form muscle and named 'myosin-ferment' which
'coagulated' myosin A quickly, i.e. strongly interacted with myosin A.
Sir A. F. Huxley (1980, p. 4)
attracted attention to the Finck's find and to the Halliburton's merit.
The question arose: who is discoverer of actin in fact, Straub or
Halliburton?
I would be grateful to everyone who will help me to answer this question.
Dr. Vladimir Matveev
REFERENCES
* Straub FB, 1942. Actin. In: Studies from the Institute of Medical
Chemistry University Szeged, vol. II (Szent-Gyorgyi, A. ed.) pp. 3-15,
S. Krager, Basel-New-York: S. Krager.
* Finck H, 1968.
On the discovery of actin. Science 160: 332.
* Halliburton WD, 1887. On muscle plasma. J. Physiol. 8: 133.
* Huxley A, 1980. Reflections on Muscle. Sherrington Lecture. Liverpool:
Liverpool University Press, p. 4.
S.V. Perry
When was actin first extracted from muscle?
Journal of Muscle Research and Cell Motility 24:
597-599, 2003
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