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The delay or lag phase at the onset of polymerization of actin by neutral salt is generally attributed to an actin nucleation reaction. However, when nucleation is circumvented by the use of phalloidin-stabilized nuclei, a lag phase persists when Ca2+-containing actin is polymerized with MgCl2. Pretreatment of actin with ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) and/or Mg2+ shortens or eliminates this lag phase, suggesting that exchange of the actin-bound divalent cation occurs during this nucleation-independent lag phase. Measurement of the actin-bound cation initially and after brief incubation with EGTA/Mg2+ directly verifies that Mg2+ has replaced Ca2+ as the actin-bound cation, producing a highly polymerizable Mg2+-actin species. Bound-cation exchange prolongs the lag phase in actin polymerization and probably explains what has been termed the monomer activation step in actin polymerization.
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