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Publication Abstract from PubMed

The Australian tree malletwood (Rhodamnia argentea) is unique. The genome of malletwood is the only known plant genome that contains a gene coding for an alpha-actinin-like protein. Several organisms predating the animal-plant bifurcation express an alpha-actinin or alpha-actinin-like protein. Therefore, it appears that plants in general, but not malletwood, have lost the alpha-actinin or alpha-actinin-like gene during evolution. In order to characterize its structure and function, we synthesized the gene and expressed the recombinant R. argentea protein. The results clearly show that this protein has all properties of genuine alpha-actinin. The N-terminal actin-binding domain (ABD), with two calponin homology motifs, is very similar to the ABD of any alpha-actinin. The C-terminal calmodulin-like domain, as well as the intervening rod domain, are also similar to the corresponding regions in other alpha-actinins. The R. argentea alpha-actinin-like protein dimerises in solution and thereby can cross-link actin filaments. Based on these results, we believe the R. argentea protein represents a genuine alpha-actinin, making R. argentea unique in the plant world.

Structural and functional characterization of a plant alpha-actinin.,Persson K, Backman L FEBS Open Bio. 2021 Jun 10. doi: 10.1002/2211-5463.13222. PMID:34110107^[1]

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.