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Published on: March 17, 2011
NELIN, a new F-actin associated protein, stimulates HeLa cell migration and adhesion
Wei Wang1, Weili Zhang, Yu Han
1Sino-German Laboratory for Molecular Medicine and Hypertension Division, Fuwai Hospital and Cardiovascular Institute, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 167 Beilishilu, Beijing 100037, PR China.
Abstract:
A new gene (GenBank Accession No. AF114264) was cloned from umbilical vein wall tissue by using RT-PCR. The gene shares high similarity to the gene encoding F-actin binding protein nexilin, so named as NELIN. A clone of 2737bp contains open reading frame of 1344bp extending from 412 to 1755. NELIN was expressed primarily in the heart and skeletal muscle among eight tested normal tissues. Immunofluorescence and immunoprecipitation demonstrated that NELIN product was associated with F-actin. Stable transfection of NELIN into HeLa cells increased the cell migration by 2.17-fold and the adhesion by 1.67-fold, respectively, compared to cells with the empty vector (P<0.05). The results support that NELIN product is an F-actin associated protein and mediates cell motility.
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