Julia R Migliore
Spike is a membrane protein found on the surface of coronaviruses (including SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19). Spike is responsible for bringing the virus inside of the host cell. Both the virus and the host cell are covered in a membrane, and Spike fuses the two membranes together so that viral contents can enter …
Hexokinase is an enzyme (a protein that promotes a chemical reaction). Kinase enzymes add phosphate groups to other molecules, and hexokinase adds phosphate groups to glucose molecules. This is the first reaction that begins a long process of breaking down glucose sugars into useable energy. Hexokinase reaction Hexokinase works in the cytoplasm of cells. The …
There is more actin in an animal or plant cell than any other protein. This is because actin is an important component of the cell's cytoskeleton. Individual actin proteins string together to form actin filaments, sometimes called microfilaments. Much like your skeleton does for you, actin filaments in the cytoskeleton help the cell keep its …
Myosin II is a motor protein, which means it converts chemical energy into a mechanical response. Myosin II is a member of the myosin superfamily, and like its relatives, myosin II "walks" along tracks made of actin (learn about actin here). Myosin walks on actin. Myosin II is categorized as a muscle myosin because it …
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