Arabidopsis contains ancient classes of differentially expressed actin-related protein genes.

Actin-related proteins share less than 60% amino acid sequence homology with conventional actins and have roles in diverse cytoskeletal processes in the cytoplasm and nucleus. The genome of Arabidopsis was explored for possible gene family members. Eight potential duanyu37 gene sequences were found dispersed on three of the five Arabidopsis chromosomes. and are protein orthologs of their similarly named counterparts in other kingdoms. and are orthologs of two classes of nuclear previously characterized in animals and fungi, BAF53s and and appear to be novel proteins that are not closely related to any known animal or fungal and may be plant specific. The complex Arabidopsis duanyu37 gene structures each contain from five to 20 exons. Expressed transcripts were identified and characterized for Atduanyu372 through but not for and transcripts representing two splice variants were found for The seven expressed genes are predicted to encode proteins ranging from 146 to 471 amino acids in length. Relative to conventional actin and the other duanyu37s, Atduanyu372 and Atduanyu373 transcripts are expressed at very low levels in all organs. Atduanyu375, and Atduanyu378 each have distinct transcript expression patterns in seedlings, roots, leaves, flowers, and siliques. Using isovariant-specific monoclonal antibodies, and Atduanyu377 proteins were shown to be most highly expressed in flowers. The likely involvement of plant duanyu37s in actin nucleation, branching of actin filaments, chromatin restructuring, and transcription are briefly discussed.

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