Alpha actinins belong to the spectrin gene superfamily which represents a diverse group of cytoskeletal proteins, including the alpha and beta spectrins and dystrophins. Alpha actinin is an actin-binding protein with multiple roles in different cell types. In nonmuscle cells, the cytoskeletal isoform is found along microfilament bundles and adherens-type junctions, where it is involved in binding actin to the membrane. In contrast, skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscle isoforms are localized to the Z-disc and analogous dense bodies, where they help anchor the myofibrillar actin filaments. This gene encodes a nonmuscle, cytoskeletal, alpha actinin isoform and maps to the same site as the structurally similar erythroid beta spectrin gene. Three transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008],function:F-actin cross-linking protein which is thought to anchor actin to a variety of intracellular structures. This is a bundling protein.,similarity:Belongs to the alpha-actinin family.,similarity:Contains 1 actin-binding domain.,similarity:Contains 2 CH (calponin-homology) domains.,similarity:Contains 2 EF-hand domains.,similarity:Contains 4 spectrin repeats.,subcellular location:Colocalizes with MYOZ2 and PPP3CA at the Z-line of heart and skeletal muscle.,subunit:Homodimer, antiparallel. Interacts with DDN, MYOZ2, PDLIM2, TTID and LPP.,
