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BioEssays 1/2010
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
bioessays
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.175
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1521-1878
pISSN - 0265-9247
DOI - 10.1002/bies.200990053
Subject(s) - phenotype , biology , gene , gene duplication , actinin , genetics , actin , evolutionary biology , microbiology and biotechnology , cell , cytoskeleton
Cover Photograph: Superposition of a molecular model of α‐actinin on a runner's leg. In humans, the ACTN3 (α‐actinin 3) genotype is associated with greater athletic performance, as compared with the ACTN2 phenotype. An ancient family of actin‐binding proteins with structural, signalling and metabolic functions, the α‐actinins diverged approximately 250–300 million years ago, and ACTN3 has since developed restricted expression in fast muscle fibres. Following gene duplication, the two genes probably diverged in function, explaining why α‐actinin‐2 cannot completely compensate for the absence of α‐actinin‐3. See the review by Monkol Lek, Kate G.R. Quinlan and Kathryn N. North in this issue.