Alpha-actinin-2 is a protein which in humans is encoded by the ACTN2 gene. [5] This gene encodes an alpha-actinin isoform that is expressed in both skeletal and cardiac muscles and functions to anchor myofibrillar actin thin filaments and titin to Z-discs.
Alpha-actinin-2 is a 103.8 kDa protein composed of 894 amino acids. [6] [7] Each molecule is rod-shaped (35 nm in length) and it homodimerizes in an anti-parallel fashion. Each monomer has an N-terminal actin-binding region composed of two calponin homology domains, two C-terminal EF hand domains, and four tandem spectrin-like repeats form the rod domain in the central region of the molecule. [8] The high-resolution crystal structure of human alpha-actinin 2 at 3.5 Å was recently resolved. [9] Alpha actinins belong to the spectrin gene superfamily which represents a diverse group of actin-binding cytoskeletal proteins, including spectrin, dystrophin, utrophin and fimbrin. [8] Skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscle isoforms are localized to the Z-disc and analogous dense bodies, where they help anchor the myofibrillar actin filaments. Alpha-actinin 2 has been shown to interact with KCNA5, [10] [11] DLG1, [10] DISC1, [12] MYOZ1, [13] GRIN2B, [14] ADAM12, [15] ACTN3, [16] MYPN, [17] PDLIM3, [18] PKN, [19] MYOT, [20] TTN, [21] NMDAR, [22] SYNPO2, [23] LDB3, [24] and FATZ. [13]
The primary function of alpha-actinin-2 is to crosslink filamentous actin molecules and titin molecules from adjoining sarcomeres at Z-discs, a function that is modulated by phospholipids. [25] [26] It is clear from studies by Hampton et al. that this crosslinking can assume a variety of conformations, with preferences for 60° and 120° angles. [27] Alpha-actinin-2 also functions in docking signalling molecules at Z-discs, and additional studies have also implicated alpha-actinin-2 in the binding of cardiac ion channels, Kv1.5 in particular. [10]
Mutations in ACTN2 are associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, [28] as well as dilated cardiomyopathy and endocardial fibroelastosis. [29] The diverse functions of alpha-actinin-2 are reflected in the diverse clinical presentation of patients carrying ACTN2 mutations. [30]
Titin is a protein that in humans is encoded by the TTN gene. Titin is a giant protein, greater than 1 µm in length, that functions as a molecular spring that is responsible for the passive elasticity of muscle. It comprises 244 individually folded protein domains connected by unstructured peptide sequences. These domains unfold when the protein is stretched and refold when the tension is removed.
Actinin is a microfilament protein. 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. Alpha-actinin is a part of the spectrin superfamily. This superfamily is made of spectrin, dystrophin, and their homologous and isoforms. In non-muscle cells, it is found by the actin filaments and at the adhesion sites.The lattice like arrangement provides stability to the muscle contractile apparatus. Specifically, it helps bind actin filaments to the cell membrane. There is a binding site at each end of the rod and with bundles of actin filaments.
Alpha-actinin-1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ACTN1 gene.
Alpha-actinin-3, also known as alpha-actinin skeletal muscle isoform 3 or F-actin cross-linking protein, is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ACTN3 gene located on chromosome 11. All people have two copies (alleles) of this gene.
Alpha-actinin-4 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ACTN4 gene.
Filamin-C (FLN-C) also known as actin-binding-like protein (ABPL) or filamin-2 (FLN2) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the FLNC gene. Filamin-C is mainly expressed in cardiac and skeletal muscles, and functions at Z-discs and in subsarcolemmal regions.
Telethonin, also known as Tcap, is a protein that in humans is encoded by the TCAP gene. Telethonin is expressed in cardiac and skeletal muscle at Z-discs and functions to regulate sarcomere assembly, T-tubule function and apoptosis. Telethonin has been implicated in several diseases, including limb-girdle muscular dystrophy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, dilated cardiomyopathy and idiopathic cardiomyopathy.
ArgBP2 protein, also referred to as Sorbin and SH3 domain-containing protein 2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the SORBS2 gene. ArgBP2 belongs to the a small family of adaptor proteins having sorbin homology (SOHO) domains. ArgBP2 is highly abundant in cardiac muscle cells at sarcomeric Z-disc structures, and is expressed in other cells at actin stress fibers and the nucleus.
Transcriptional enhancer factor TEF-1 also known as TEA domain family member 1 (TEAD1) and transcription factor 13 (TCF-13) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the TEAD1 gene. TEAD1 was the first member of the TEAD family of transcription factors to be identified.
Myotilin is a protein that in humans is encoded by the MYOT gene. Myotilin also known as TTID is a muscle protein that is found within the Z-disc of sarcomeres.
Obscurin is a protein that in humans is encoded by the OBSCN gene. Obscurin belongs to the family of giant sarcomeric signaling proteins that includes titin and nebulin. Obscurin is expressed in cardiac and skeletal muscle, and plays a role in the organization of myofibrils during sarcomere assembly. A mutation in the OBSCN gene has been associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and altered obscurin protein properties have been associated with other muscle diseases.
Cysteine and glycine-rich protein 3 also known as cardiac LIM protein (CLP) or muscle LIM protein (MLP) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the CSRP3 gene.
Myozenin-2, also referred to as Calsarcin-1, is a protein that in humans is encoded by the MYOZ2 gene. The Calsarcin-1 isoform is a muscle protein expressed in cardiac muscle and slow-twitch skeletal muscle, which functions to tether calcineurin to alpha-actinin at Z-discs, and inhibit the pathological cardiac hypertrophic response. This differs from the fast-skeletal muscle isoform, calsarcin-2.
LIM domain binding 3 (LDB3), also known as Z-band alternatively spliced PDZ-motif (ZASP), is a protein which in humans is encoded by the LDB3 gene. ZASP belongs to the Enigma subfamily of proteins and stabilizes the sarcomere during contraction, through interactions with actin in cardiac and skeletal muscles. Mutations in the ZASP gene has been associated with several muscular diseases.
F-actin-capping protein subunit alpha-2 also known as CapZ-alpha2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the CAPZA2 gene.
Myomesin-1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the MYOM1 gene. Myomesin-1 is expressed in muscle cells and functions to stabilize the three-dimensional conformation of the thick filament. Embryonic forms of Myomesin-1 have been detected in dilated cardiomyopathy.
Myopodin protein, also called Synaptopodin-2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the SYNPO2 gene. Myopodin is expressed in cardiac, smooth muscle and skeletal muscle, and localizes to Z-disc structures.
Myozenin-1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the MYOZ1 gene.
Actin-associated LIM protein (ALP), also known as PDZ and LIM domain protein 3 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the PDLIM3 gene. ALP is highly expressed in cardiac and skeletal muscle, where it localizes to Z-discs and intercalated discs. ALP functions to enhance the crosslinking of actin by alpha-actinin-2 and also appears to be essential for right ventricular chamber formation and contractile function.
Myomesin-2, also known as M-protein is a protein that in humans is encoded by the MYOM2 gene. M-protein is expressed in adult cardiac muscle and fast skeletal muscle, and functions to stabilize the three-dimensional arrangement of proteins comprising M-band structures in a sarcomere.
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