Actin is among the most highly abundant and ubiquitous proteins in eukaryotic cells. The structure, dynamics and functional diversity of actin have continued to mesmerise cell and molecular biologists, biophysicists and physiologists for more than three quarters of a century. The discovery and initial characterization of actin, which took place in the laboratory of Albert Szent-Györgyi by Ilona Banga and Brúnó F. Straub during the second world war in Hungary, is a remarkable and inspiring moment in the history of science. Many of the early thoughts and ideas on the properties and functions of actin and particularly actomyosin, which are referred to in this short historical overview, resonate freshly even today.

中文翻译：

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肌动蛋白的发现：“去看别人看到的东西，去思考没人想过的东西”。

肌动蛋白是真核细胞中最高度丰富和普遍存在的蛋白质之一。肌动蛋白的结构，动力学和功能多样性一直困扰着细胞和分子生物学家，生物物理学家和生理学家超过四分之三世纪。在匈牙利第二次世界大战期间，Ilona Banga和BrúnóF. Straub在AlbertSzent-Györgyi的实验室中进行了肌动蛋白的发现和初步表征，这在科学史上是一个非凡而令人振奋的时刻。在这段简短的历史概述中提到的许多关于肌动蛋白特别是肌动球蛋白特性和功能的早期思想和观念，甚至在今天都引起了共鸣。