Actin is a family of globular multi-functional proteins that form microfilaments in the cytoskeleton, and the thin filaments in muscle fibrils. It is found in essentially all eukaryotic cells, where it may be present at a concentration of over 100 μM; its mass is roughly 42 kDa, with a diameter of 4 to 7 nm.
Tropomyosin is a two-stranded alpha-helical, coiled coil protein found in many animal and fungal cells. In animals, it is an important component of the muscular system which works in conjunction with troponin to regulate muscle contraction. It is present in smooth and striated muscle tissues, which can be found in various organs and body systems, including the heart, blood vessels, respiratory system, and digestive system. In fungi, tropomyosin is found in cell walls and helps maintain the structural integrity of cells.
ADF/cofilin is a family of actin-binding proteins associated with the rapid depolymerization of actin microfilaments that give actin its characteristic dynamic instability. This dynamic instability is central to actin's role in muscle contraction, cell motility and transcription regulation.
LIM domains are protein structural domains, composed of two contiguous zinc fingers, separated by a two-amino acid residue hydrophobic linker. The domain name is an acronym of the three genes in which it was first identified. LIM is a protein interaction domain that is involved in binding to many structurally and functionally diverse partners. The LIM domain appeared in eukaryotes sometime prior to the most recent common ancestor of plants, fungi, amoeba and animals. In animal cells, LIM domain-containing proteins often shuttle between the cell nucleus where they can regulate gene expression, and the cytoplasm where they are usually associated with actin cytoskeletal structures involved in connecting cells together and to the surrounding matrix, such as stress fibers, focal adhesions and adherens junctions.
Formins (formin homology proteins) are a group of proteins that are involved in the polymerization of actin and associate with the fast-growing end (barbed end) of actin filaments. Most formins are Rho-GTPase effector proteins. Formins regulate the actin and microtubule cytoskeleton and are involved in various cellular functions such as cell polarity, cytokinesis, cell migration and SRF transcriptional activity. Formins are multidomain proteins that interact with diverse signalling molecules and cytoskeletal proteins, although some formins have been assigned functions within the nucleus.
Tropomyosin alpha-1 chain is a protein that in humans is encoded by the TPM1 gene. This gene is a member of the tropomyosin (Tm) family of highly conserved, widely distributed actin-binding proteins involved in the contractile system of striated and smooth muscles and the cytoskeleton of non-muscle cells.
Unconventional myosin-VI, is a protein that in humans is coded for by MYO6. Unconventional myosin-VI is a myosin molecular motor involved in intracellular vesicle and organelle transport.
Alpha-actinin-1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ACTN1 gene.
Alpha-actinin-2 is a protein which in humans is encoded by the ACTN2 gene. 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-4 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ACTN4 gene.
Zyxin is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ZYX gene.
β-Tropomyosin, also known as tropomyosin beta chain is a protein that in humans is encoded by the TPM2 gene. β-tropomyosin is striated muscle-specific coiled coil dimer that functions to stabilize actin filaments and regulate muscle contraction.
PDZ and LIM domain protein 5 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the PDLIM5 gene.
Thyroid receptor-interacting protein 6 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the TRIP6 gene.
Actin binding LIM protein 1, also known as ABLIM1, is a protein which in humans is encoded by the ABLIM1 gene.
PDZ and LIM domain protein 1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the PDLIM1 gene.
Filamin-binding LIM protein 1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the FBLIM1 gene.
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.
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.
Cofilin 2 (muscle) also known as CFL2 is a protein which in humans is encoded by the CFL2 gene.
