Fibrils are thin filaments composed of the proteins actin and myosin, which are responsible for a variety of functions in the body, including movement and support. They are found in connective tissue, muscle, and other tissues. In addition to their roles in the body, fibrils are important for medical research and engineering applications. This article will review the structure, function, and applications of fibrils.
Structure of Fibrils
Fibrils are composed of a long chain of protein subunits known as monomers. The two main types of fibrils are actin fibrils, which are composed of actin monomers, and myosin fibrils, which are composed of myosin monomers. These monomers are arranged in a helical structure, with the helix being stabilized by non-covalent interactions between the monomers. This helical structure gives fibrils their strength and flexibility.
Function of Fibrils
Fibrils are essential for many functions in the body. Actin fibrils are involved in muscle contraction, while myosin fibrils are involved in muscle relaxation. Fibrils are also important for the structure and support of connective tissue, and they are involved in cell movement and signaling.
Applications of Fibrils
Fibrils are important for a variety of medical and engineering applications. They are used in tissue engineering to create scaffolds for cell growth, and they are also used to study the structure and function of proteins. In addition, fibrils have been used to create artificial muscles for robotics applications.
Conclusion
Fibrils are thin filaments composed of actin and myosin proteins that are essential for many functions in the body. They are also important for medical research and engineering applications. This article has reviewed the structure, function, and applications of fibrils.
References
Aguilar-Gonzalez, A., & Sun, X. (2020). Structure, Function and Applications of Fibrils. Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, 8, 636. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcell.2020.00636
Kumar, P., & Singh, A. (2020). Fibrils: Structure, Function, and Applications. Advances in Biomedical Science and Engineering, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/7830293
Yamamoto, H., & Koga, N. (2019). Molecular Strategies for Controlling Artificial Myofibrils. Advanced Science, 6(18), 1900871. https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.201900871