Actin Motility Assay

The actin motility assay, also known as the in vitro motility assay, is a powerful and widely used technique to study the movement of actin filaments powered by myosin motors. This assay enables researchers to visualize and quantify actin-based motility in a controlled environment, providing insights into motor protein function, actin-myosin interactions, and the effects of regulatory proteins or small molecules.

In a typical setup, myosin molecules (such as full-length myosin or heavy meromyosin) are immobilized on a surface, and fluorescently labeled actin filaments are introduced. When ATP is supplied, myosin propels the actin filaments, and their movement is recorded via fluorescence microscopy.

This assay is commonly used in:

• Muscle physiology and contractility studies

• Cytoskeletal regulation research

• Drug screening and motor protein inhibition

• Characterization of mutant or modified actin/myosin isoforms

At Andex Biotech, we provide high-quality, functionally active myosin (cardiac, skeletal, smooth), HMM, S1 fragments, and modified actin isoforms ideal for use in motility assays. All proteins are tested for activity and purity, ensuring reliable performance in sensitive experiments.