| In
the organisms where it has been possible to test, ACs have been found to
be vital. No mutations have yet been associated with human disease
but members of the AC family have been implicated in human disease. Both
ADF and cofilin are associated with Hirano bodies, actin-rich rods
present in neuronal cells of Alzheimer's patients and other
neuro-degenerative diseases (Maciver
& Harrington, 1995).
Similar cofilin-rich structures appear in the cytoplasm of cultured
hippocampal cells when treated with neuro-degenerative stimuli (Minamide
et al, 2000).
References:-
Maciver, S. K. & Harrington, C. R.
(1995) Two actin-binding proteins, actin depolymerizing factor and
cofilin, are associated with hirano bodies, Neuroreport. 6,
1985-1988.
Minamide, L. S., Streigl, A. M.,
Boyle, J. A., Meberg, P. J. & Bamburg, J. R. (2000)
Neurodegenerative stimuli induced persistent ADF/cofilin-actin rods that
disrupt distal neurite function., Nature Cell Biol. 2, 628-636. |
