Anillin (ANLN)

Anillin migrates at 190 kD on SDS-PAGE. Anillin is expressed throughout Drosophila development and in tissue culture cells. In contractile rings, metaphase furrows, and nascent ring canals, anillin remains bound to the invaginated cortex suggesting a stabilizing role. Anillin is not expressed in cells that have left the cell cycle. Anillin isolated from embryo extracts binds directly to actin filaments. The domain responsible for this binding has been mapped to a region of 244 amino acids by expression of protein fragments in bacteria. This domain, which is monomeric in solution, also bundles actin filaments. Anillin plays a role in organizing and/or stabilizing the cleavage furrow and other cell cycle regulated, contractile domains of the actin cytoskeleton.