GMF-gamma is a 142 amino acid protein that belongs to the GMF subfamily of the larger actin-binding protein ADF family. GMF-gamma is expressed predominantly in lung, heart and placenta. GMF-gamma is considered a candidate regulatory growth factor protein, mediating both paracrine and autocrine cell-cell interactions. GMF-gamma is phosphorylated at N-terminal serine, and its phosphorylation is enhanced by coexpression of dominant active Rac 1 and Cdc42. GMF-gamma expression is significantly increased in a cardiac ischemia/reperfusion model where inflammation and angiogenesis take place actively. As a regulator of actin-based cellular functions, GMF-gamma may provide a novel approach to modulate the pathophysiology of cardiovascular diseases. GMF-gamma is primarily found in proliferative and differentiative organs.
