Actinin

Actinin is a microfilament protein. α-Actinin is necessary for the attachment of actin filaments to the Z-lines in skeletal muscle cells,[1] and to the dense bodies in smooth muscle cells. The functional protein is an anti-parallel dimer, which cross-links the thin filaments in adjacent sarcomeres, and therefore coordinates contractions between sarcomeres in the horizontal axis.

The non-sarcomeric α-actinins (ACTN1 and ACTN4) are widely expressed. Both ends of the rod-shaped α-actinin dimer contain actin-binding domains.

Mutations in ACTN4 can cause the kidney disease focal segmental glomerulosclerosis.

Genes

See also

References

  1. Ganong's Review of Medical Physiology, 24th Edition. Lange (Tata McGraw Hill). 2012. p. 100.

External links