Actin microheterogeneity in chick embryo fibroblasts.

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Abstract
Secondary chick embryo fibroblasts contain 3 distinct actin species, .alpha., .beta., and .gamma., in the approximate ratio 1:63, with the same molecular weights but different isoelectric points. The most acidic of these components, .alpha., comigrates on isoelectric focusing gels with the major actin of cardiac and skeletal muscle, while .gamma., the most basic of the actins, comigrates with smooth muscle actin. The 3 components have overlapping methionine-containing tryptic peptides. All 3 actins were present in actomyosin and cytoskeleton preparations from chick embryo fibrobalsts. Identification of .alpha.-actin as the major actin from sarcomere-containing cells was confirmed by comparing embryonic chicken pre- and post-fusion myoblast cultures. Following myoblast fusion, the relative amount of .alpha.-actin increases until it changes from a minor actin component to the predominant actin species in the culture.