Expression of a muscle-type alpha-actinin cDNA clone in non-muscle cells

We have previously isolated a chick smooth muscle-type alpha-actinin cDNA clone (C17) from a chick embryo fibroblast cDNA library. As part of an investigation into a possible role for a muscle isoform of alpha-actinin in non-muscle cells, we have cloned C17 into a eucaryotic expression vector, pKCR3, and examined the distribution of the expressed protein in non-muscle, monkey COS cells. We report here that the muscle isoform of chick alpha-actinin encoded by C17, was found in focal contacts and periodically distributed along actin filaments.