{"symbol":"ACTN4","synonyms":["FSGS","FSGS1","ACTININ-4"],"name":"actinin, alpha 4","description":" Alpha actinins belong to the spectrin gene superfamily which represents a diverse group of cytoskeletal proteins, including the alpha and beta spectrins and dystrophins.  Alpha actinin is an actin-binding protein with multiple roles in different cell types.  In nonmuscle cells, the cytoskeletal isoform is found along microfilament bundles and adherens-type junctions, where it is involved in binding actin to the membrane.  In contrast, skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscle isoforms are localized to the Z-disc and analogous dense bodies, where they help anchor the myofibrillar actin filaments.  This gene encodes a nonmuscle, alpha actinin isoform which is concentrated in the cytoplasm, and thought to be involved in metastatic processes.  Mutations in this gene have been associated with focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]","ncbiEntrezGeneId":81,"ncbiEntrezGeneUrl":"http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/81","proteins":[{"symbol":"ACTN4_HUMAN","href":"/api/1.0/protein/ACTN4_HUMAN"}],"hgncRootFamilies":[{"name":"EF-hand domain containing","href":"/api/1.0/gene_family/EF-hand+domain+containing"}]}