Maya Noureddine, Halina Mikolajek, Neil V Morgan, Chris Denning, Siobhan Loughna, Katja Gehmlich, Fiyaz Mohammed
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
α-actinin (ACTN) is a pivotal member of the actin-binding protein family, crucial for the anchoring and organization of actin filaments within the cytoskeleton. Four isoforms of α-actinin exist: two non-muscle isoforms (ACTN1 and ACTN4) primarily associated with actin stress fibers and focal adhesions, and two muscle-specific isoforms (ACTN2 and ACTN3) localized to the Z-disk of the striated muscle. Although these isoforms share structural similarities, they exhibit distinct functional characteristics that reflect their specialized roles in various tissues. Genetic variants in α-actinin isoforms have been implicated in a range of pathologies, including cardiomyopathies, thrombocytopenia, and non-cardiovascular diseases, such as nephropathy. However, the precise impact of these genetic variants on the α-actinin structure and their contribution to disease pathogenesis remains poorly understood. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the structural and functional attributes of the four α-actinin isoforms, emphasizing their roles in actin crosslinking and sarcomere stabilization. Furthermore, we present detailed structural modeling of select ACTN1 and ACTN2 variants to elucidate mechanisms underlying disease pathogenesis, with a particular focus on macrothrombocytopenia and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. By advancing our understanding of α-actinin's role in both normal cellular function and disease states, this review lays the groundwork for future research and the development of targeted therapeutic interventions.
期刊介绍:
General physiology is the study of biological mechanisms through analytical investigations, which decipher the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying biological function at all levels of organization.
The mission of Journal of General Physiology (JGP) is to publish mechanistic and quantitative molecular and cellular physiology of the highest quality, to provide a best-in-class author experience, and to nurture future generations of independent researchers. The major emphasis is on physiological problems at the cellular and molecular level.