Mouse anti actin alpha-cardiac

Among the six actin isoforms described in mammals, two are found in virtually all cells (?- and ?-cytoplasmic), two are detected in smooth muscle cells (?- and ?-smooth muscle) and two are present in striated muscles, one predominantly in skeletal (?-skeletal) and one in cardiac (?-cardiac) muscle cells. These actin isoforms differ slightly in their N-terminus, but the sequence of each of these actins is highly conserved in higher vertebRates. Cardiac ?-actin, which is the main actin isoform in the adult heart, has also been shown to be the predominant form in early muscle development. In later development the expression of ?-cardiac actin is down regulated and ?-skeletal actin becomes the dominant isoform in the adult skeletal muscle.