Todd Lab

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Shannon Lab

Assembly and Contraction of the Actomyosin Ring in Budding Yeast

What is the actomyosin ring?

The actomyosin ring is a structure composed of actin filaments, type II myosin, and other proteins. Myosin is a molecular motor that “walks” along actin filaments. Myosin movement along actin filaments causes a contraction or constriction of the ring. As the actomyosin ring contracts, it pulls the plasma membrane of the cell. This process is called cytokinesis, which is the physical division of one cell into two.