The ALP-Enigma Protein ALP-1 Functions in Actin Filament Organization to Promote Muscle Structural Integrity in Caenorhabditis elegans
| Autor: | Hsiao Fen Han, Mary C. Beckerle |
|---|---|
| Jazyk: | angličtina |
| Rok vydání: | 2009 |
| Předmět: |
musculoskeletal diseases
Actin filament organization Arp2/3 complex Muscle Proteins Actinin macromolecular substances Biology Actin remodeling of neurons stomatognathic system Antibody Specificity Animals Connectin Caenorhabditis elegans Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins Molecular Biology Actin Adaptor Proteins Signal Transducing musculoskeletal neural and ocular physiology Muscles Microfilament Proteins Actin remodeling Cell Biology Articles LIM Domain Proteins Actin cytoskeleton musculoskeletal system Cellular Structures Vinculin Cell biology Biomechanical Phenomena Actin Cytoskeleton Protein Transport Mutation biology.protein Mutant Proteins MDia1 |
| Popis: | Mutations that affect the Z-disk-associated ALP-Enigma proteins have been linked to human muscular and cardiac diseases. Despite their clear physiological significance for human health, the mechanism of action of ALP-Enigma proteins is largely unknown. In Caenorhabditis elegans, the ALP-Enigma protein family is encoded by a single gene, alp-1; thus C. elegans provides an excellent model to study ALP-Enigma function. Here we present a molecular and genetic analysis of ALP-Enigma function in C. elegans. We show that ALP-1 and alpha-actinin colocalize at dense bodies where actin filaments are anchored and that the proper localization of ALP-1 at dense bodies is dependent on alpha-actinin. Our analysis of alp-1 mutants demonstrates that ALP-1 functions to maintain actin filament organization and participates in muscle stabilization during contraction. Reducing alpha-actinin activity enhances the actin filament phenotype of the alp-1 mutants, suggesting that ALP-1 and alpha-actinin function in the same cellular process. Like alpha-actinin, alp-1 also interacts genetically with a connectin/titin family member, ketn-1, to provide mechanical stability for supporting body wall muscle contraction. Taken together, our data demonstrate that ALP-1 and alpha-actinin function together to stabilize actin filaments and promote muscle structural integrity. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
| Externí odkaz: |
|