Type: | Family | Name: | Villin-like protein |
Description: | Villin is an actin-binding protein that is found in a variety of tissues. It is able to bind to the barbed end of actin filaments with high affinity and can sever filaments []. In addition, villin's activity is important for actin bundling in certain cell types []. It was first isolated as a major component of the core of intestinal microvilli [].Villin is a member of the gelsolin family, which includes other actin-binding proteins such as severin and supervillin []. Gelsolin family members contain between three and six evolutionarily conserved domains (called gelsolin-like or G domains) and have a carboxy terminal headpiece []. Villin has 6 gelsolin like domains that form its core domain. The core domain retains actin severing, capping and nucleating activities and also contains actin-binding, PIP2 binding and calcium-binding sites. Villin's headpiece allows it to form actin bundles []. | Short Name: | Villin-like |