# CRYSTALLOGRAPHY OF ACTIN AND ACTIN-BINDING PROTEINS

> **NIH NIH R01** · PRINCETON UNIVERSITY · 1988 · $127,342

## Abstract

It is proposed to determine the high resolution structure of the
profilin:actin complex by x-ray crystallography, to establish the packing
of the monomeric crystal structure in the helical actin filament, to
crystallize villin and villin:actin complexes, and to determine the
structures of a range of actin conformers in the profilin:actin crystals.

A high resolution chemical structure of actin is essential for a
mechanistic understanding of muscular contraction and the process of
mechanochemical transduction.  Very basic processes like cytokinesis,
membrane ruffling, and endocytosis, common to many cells, all involve actin
filaments and changes in the state of organization of actin-containing
structures.  The highly-conserved nature of actin and its widespread
distribution in eukaryotic cells in processes where movement is involved,
points to a common explanation at the chemical level of description.

Knowledge of the actin structure, in both the monomeric and filamentous
forms, will be important for unravelling the events involved when a cell,
transformed by retroviruses, undergoes dramatic changes in shape.
Similarly, during platelet activation, major re-organization of the
cytoskeleton occurs.  Actin-containing microvilli of the inner intestinal
lumen medidate the absorptive process, and structures of these bundles may
offer deeper insight into malabsorption diseases such as coeliac syndrome.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3158199
- **Project number:** 5R01AR037559-03
- **Recipient organization:** PRINCETON UNIVERSITY
- **SAM.gov UEI:** NJ1YPQXQG7U5
- **Principal Investigator:** CLARENCE E SCHUTT
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1988
- **Award amount:** $127,342
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1986-07-01 → 1989-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3158199

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3158199, CRYSTALLOGRAPHY OF ACTIN AND ACTIN-BINDING PROTEINS (5R01AR037559-03). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3158199. Licensed CC0.

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