Abstract

The genome of the chlorarchiniophyte Bigelowiella natans codes for a protein annotated as an α-actinin-like protein. Analysis of the primary sequence indicate that this protein has the same domain structure as other α-actinins, a N-terminal actin-binding domain and a C-terminal calmodulin-like domain. These two domains are connected by a short rod domain, albeit long enough to form a single spectrin repeat. To analyse the functional properties of this protein, the full-length protein as well as the separate domains were cloned and isolated. Characerisation showed that the protein is capable of cross-linking actin filaments into dense bundles, probably due to dimer formation. Similar to human α-actinin, calcium-binding occurs to the most N-terminal EF-hand motif in the calmodulin-like C-terminal domain. The results indicate that this Bigelowiella protein is a proper α-actinin, with all common characteristics of a typical α-actinin.

Highlights

  • The cellular cytoskeleton is indispensable for any eukaryotic cell

  • After subcloning into the expression vector, this plasmid was used as template for preparing constructs of polypeptides used in this report

  • Direct binding assays as well as transmission electron microscopy showed that the protein cross-links actin filaments into dense bundles

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Summary

Introduction

The cellular cytoskeleton is indispensable for any eukaryotic cell. This protein network, composed to varying degrees of actin filaments, intermediate filaments and microtubules, plays a role in all cellular events. Α-actinin, like other members of the spectrin superfamily, is characterised by three structural domains: a N-terminal actin-binding domain, composed of two calponin homology domains, and a C-terminal calmodulin-like domain (Broderick & Winder, 2005; Wasenius et al, 1987). These domains are connected by a central rod domain consisting of spectrin-like repeats (Blanchard, Ohanian & Critchley, 1989; Otey & Carpen, 2004; Sjöblom, Salmazo & Djinovic-Carugo, 2008). Like Entamoeba histolytica and Encephalitozoon cuniculi have a much shorter rod sequence, that may form a single repeat

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