Emergence of Xin demarcates a key innovation in heart evolution.

ABSTRACT: The mouse Xin repeat-containing proteins (mXinalpha and mXinbeta) localize to the intercalated disc in the heart. mXinalpha is able to bundle actin filaments and to interact with beta-catenin, suggesting a role in linking the actin cytoskeleton to N-cadherin/beta-catenin adhesion. mXinalpha-null mouse hearts display progressively ultrastructural alterations at the intercalated discs, and develop cardiac hypertrophy and cardiomyopathy with conduction defects. The up-regulation of mXinbeta in mXinalpha-deficient mice suggests a partial compensation for the loss of mXinalpha. To elucidate the evolutionary relationship between these proteins and to identify the origin of Xin, a phylogenetic analysis was done with 40 vertebrate Xins. Our results show that the ancestral Xin originated prior to t

SUBMITTER: Grosskurth SE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2478706 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature