A high molecular weight actin binding protein: its localization in the cortex of the sea urchin egg

From the Triton-treated cortex fraction of sea urchin eggs, a high molecular weight actin binding protein (260K protein) was solubilized by a high salt solution and purified. A cosedimentation assay revealed that the 260K protein binds to actin filaments in a concentration-dependent manner. The low-shear viscosity of actin solutions largely increased in a concentration-dependent manner after addition of 260K protein. Electron microscopy showed that this protein induces the formation of large curled bundles of actin filaments. Different from fascin-induced actin bundles, no clear striations were observed within the actin bundles formed by the 260K protein. Antibodies against the 260K protein were raised in a rabbit and affinity purified. Immunoblotting analysis of Triton-solubilized cortex and various subcellular fractions showed that first only a single band reacted with the antibody and second that the 260K protein exclusively localized in the cortex fraction. Indirect immunofluorescence microscopy localized the protein in the cortex and the region of the cleavage furrow. After double staining, the fluorescence images for actin filaments and the 260K protein well correlate with each other.