Caldesmon, Filamin 1, Nebulin and Villin are differentially expressed and regulated Actin binding proteins. Both muscular and non-muscular forms of Caldesmon have been identified and each has been shown to bind to Actin as well as to calmodulin and Myosin. Alternative splicing of the gene encoding Caldesmon results in five isoforms. Muscular Caldesmon (isoform 1), also designated high molecular weight Caldesmon or H-Caldesmon (H-CAD), is expressed predominantly on thin filaments in smooth muscle. Non-muscular Caldesmon (isoforms 2-5), also designated low molecular weight Caldesmon or L-Caldesmon (L-CAD), is widely expressed in non-muscle tissues and cells. Filamin 1, which is ubiquitously expressed and exists as a homodimer, functions to crosslink Actin to filaments. Nebulin is a large filamentous protein specific to muscle tissue that may function as a ruler for filament length. Several isoforms of Nebulin are produced by alternative exon usage. Villin is Ca2+-regulated and is the major structural component of the brush border of absorptive cells.
