Tractinbased
Tractin-based refers to a family of fluorescent actin probes that use the actin-binding domain of tractin, fused to a fluorescent reporter, to label filamentous actin (F-actin) in living cells. These probes enable visualization of actin structures such as cortical networks, lamellipodia, and filopodia in real time and across a range of species. In use, a tractin-based sensor is delivered as a genetic construct (for example as a GFP- or mCherry-tagged tractin fusion) and expressed under a chosen promoter. The resulting fusion protein binds selectively to F-actin, producing a fluorescent signal that traces actin filaments while allowing dynamic studies of polymerization, retrograde flow, and protrusive activity.
Designed variants differ in the source actin-binding domain, fusion orientation, and reporter fluorophore, and are typically
Tractin-based probes have been used in a wide range of systems, including mammalian cells, yeast, plants, and