Nonmuscle α-Actinin-4 Couples Sarcomere Function to Cardiac Remodeling.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Cardiac sarcomeres generate the fundamental forces of each heartbeat. Cardiac myocytes (CMs) express nonmuscle versions of muscle-specific sarcomere proteins, which have unknown relevance to sarcomere function or heart physiology.

Methods

Expression levels of nonmuscle cytoskeletal proteins versus muscle-specific counterparts in CMs were directly compared. Function and subcellular localization of the nonmuscle protein ACTN4 (alpha-actinin-4) in induced pluripotent stem cell-derived CMs were determined using small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown, overexpression, and pharmacological perturbation. Impacts of ACTN4 depletion or knockout on cardiac structure function were evaluated in zebrafish embryos. Left ventricular Actn4 expression was evaluated in a mou

SUBMITTER: Hayes JB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12757129 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature