Actins are highly conserved proteins that are involved in various types of cell motility and are ubiquitously expressed in all eukaryotic cells. Actin assembles into short polymer microfilaments, these are thought to contribute to parasite gliding motility. Actin-1 is formed in all parasitic stages; asexual blood stages and in the sexual stages. Actin-2 is stage-specific, formed only in the sexual stages of the parasite's life cycle. Belongs to the actin family.