{"entity": "publication", "iuid": "f5093f3692884ab6b770ddd13635e3fe", "timestamp": "2026-07-04T18:56:27.207Z", "links": {"self": {"href": "https://publications.scilifelab.se/publication/f5093f3692884ab6b770ddd13635e3fe.json"}, "display": {"href": "https://publications.scilifelab.se/publication/f5093f3692884ab6b770ddd13635e3fe"}}, "title": "Characterisation of Encephalitozoon cuniculi \u03b1-actinin.", "authors": [{"family": "Sandblad", "given": "Linda", "initials": "L"}, {"family": "Backman", "given": "Lars", "initials": "L"}], "type": "journal article", "published": "2026-06-00", "journal": {"title": "Mol Biochem Parasitol", "issn": "1872-9428", "volume": "266", "pages": "111738", "issn-l": null}, "abstract": "The Encephaliozoon cuniculi is an obligate intracellular microsporidian parasite with a highly reduced genome, yet it contains several key components of an actin cytoskeleton. In this study, we characterise the \u03b1-actinin-like protein from the parasite to gain insight into its role in actin organisation. The protein contains three domains typical of \u03b1-actinins: an N-terminal actin-binding domain and a C-terminal calmodulin-like domain, separated by a rod domain. Gel filtration analysis demonstrated that the recombinant protein formed stable dimers, consistent with the canonical antiparallel \u03b1-actinin structure. Actin co-sedimentation assays and electron microscopy confirmed that the \u03b1-actinin-like protein binds and cross-links actin filaments into tight bundles, whereas the isolated actin-binding domain binds but does not cross-link filaments. AlphaFold modelling predicted an overall structural arrangement compatible with an antiparallel dimer. Our results identify the E. cuniculi \u03b1-actinin-like protein as a true \u03b1-actinin homologue. The presence of actin-binding proteins in E. cuniculi as well as in other microsporidia with very small genomes implies that an actin-based cytoskeleton is important for their survival.", "doi": "10.1016/j.molbiopara.2026.111738", "pmid": "41730339", "labels": {"Cryo-EM": "Collaborative"}, "xrefs": [{"db": "pii", "key": "S0166-6851(26)00017-4"}], "notes": [], "created": "2026-06-24T09:11:23.586Z", "modified": "2026-06-24T09:11:23.603Z"}