mKate2 Fused to Human alpha-Actinin
mKate2 is a far-red fluorescent protein that is useful in fusion vectors. In the digital image presented above, a mammalian cell can be seen expressing an mKate2 fusion with alpha-actinin. An actin-binding protein, alpha-actinin is found in a variety of cell types and functions in several different ways. In muscle cells, alpha-actinin is insensitive to calcium and functions in the anchoring of myofibrillar actin filaments to Z-lines or dense bodies (depending on muscle type). In non-muscle cells, alpha-actinin typically exhibits sensitivity to calcium and is localized along microfilament bundles and adherens junctions.