Drebrin-like protein DBN-1 is a sarcomere component that stabilizes actin filaments during muscle contraction.
Actin filament organization and stability in the sarcomeres of muscle cells are critical for force generation. Here we identify and functionally characterize a Caenorhabditis elegans drebrin-like protein DBN-1 as a novel constituent of the muscle contraction machinery. In vitro, DBN-1 exhibits actin filament binding and bundling activity. In vivo, DBN-1 is expressed in body wall muscles of C. elegans. During the muscle contraction cycle, DBN-1 alternates location between myosin- and actin-rich regions of the sarcomere. In contracted muscle, DBN-1 is accumulated at I-bands where it likely regulates proper spacing of α-actinin and tropomyosin and protects actin filaments from the interaction with ADF/cofilin. DBN-1 loss of function results in the partial depolymerization of F-actin during muscle contraction. Taken together, our data show that DBN-1 organizes the muscle contractile apparatus maintaining the spatial relationship between actin-binding proteins such as α-actinin, tropomyosin and ADF/cofilin and possibly strengthening actin filaments by bundling.
Duke Scholars
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Related Subject Headings
- Sarcomeres
- Promoter Regions, Genetic
- Neuropeptides
- Muscle, Skeletal
- Muscle Contraction
- Microscopy, Fluorescence
- Gene Expression Regulation
- Chlorocebus aethiops
- Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
- Caenorhabditis elegans
Citation
Published In
DOI
EISSN
ISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Start / End Page
Related Subject Headings
- Sarcomeres
- Promoter Regions, Genetic
- Neuropeptides
- Muscle, Skeletal
- Muscle Contraction
- Microscopy, Fluorescence
- Gene Expression Regulation
- Chlorocebus aethiops
- Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
- Caenorhabditis elegans