Beta Actin (ACTB)

Beta-actin (gene name ACTB) is one of the two nonmuscle cytoskeletal actins. Actins are highly conserved proteins that are involved in cell motility, structure and integrity. Alpha actins are a major constituent of the contractile apparatus.

In a neoplastic cell line resulting from treatment of cultured human diploid fibroblasts with a chemical mutagen, Leavitt et al. (1982) observed a mutant form of beta actin. Toyama and Toyama (1984) isolated and characterized lines of KB cells resistant to cytochalasin B. They found that one resistant line had an alteration in beta-actin. Such cells bound less cytochalasin B than did parental KB cells. The authors suggested that the primary site of action of cytochalasin B on cell motility processes is beta-actin.