title: Nebulin, a multi-functional giant.
abstract: Efficient muscle contraction in skeletal muscle is predicated on the regulation of actin filament lengths. In one long-standing model that was prominent for decades, the giant protein nebulin was proposed to function as a 'molecular ruler' to specify the lengths of the thin filaments. This theory was questioned by many observations, including experiments in which the length of nebulin was manipulated in skeletal myocytes; this approach revealed that nebulin functions to stabilize filamentous actin, allowing thin filaments to reach mature lengths. In addition, more recent data, mostly from in vivo models and identification of new interacting partners, have provided evidence that nebulin is not merely a structural protein. Nebulin plays a role in numerous cellular processes including regulation of muscle contraction, Z-disc formation, and myofibril organization and assembly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine and the Sarver Molecular Cardiovascular Research Program, The University of Arizona, 1656 East Mabel, MRB315, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA.
authors.forename: Miensheng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine and the Sarver Molecular Cardiovascular Research Program, The University of Arizona, 1656 East Mabel, MRB315, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA gregorio@email.arizona.edu.
authors.forename: Carol C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Gregorio
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine and the Sarver Molecular Cardiovascular Research Program, The University of Arizona, 1656 East Mabel, MRB315, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Pappas
mesh_terms: D008841:Actin Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D004194:Disease; D006801:Humans; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D011485:Protein Binding
chemical_list: D009124:Muscle Proteins; C035620:nebulin
keywords: Actin filament; Sarcomere; Skeletal muscle