Acf7 (MACF) is an actin and microtubule linker protein whose expression predominates in neural, muscle, and lung development

Several proteins belonging to the plakin family of cytoskeletal linker prot eins have recently been identified, including dystonin/Bpag1 and plectin, T hese proteins are unique in their abilities to form bridges between differe nt cytoskeletal elements through specialized modular domains. We have previ ously reported the cloning and partial characterization of Acf7, a novel me mber of the plakin family. More recently, the full-length cDNA for mouse Ac f7 has been reported. Acf7 has a hybrid composition, with extended homology to dystonin/Bpag1 and plectin in the N-terminal half, and to dystrophin in the central and C-terminal half. Recent studies have demonstrated that Acf 7 has functional actin and microtubule binding domains. Here, we describe t he developmental expression profile for mouse Acf7, RNA in situ hybridizati on experiments revealed Acf7 transcripts in the dermomyotome and neural fol d of day 8.5 mouse embryos. Later in development, Acf7 expression was predo minant in neural and muscle tissues and was strongly up-regulated just befo re birth in type II alveolar cells of the lung. Altogether, our results sug gest that Acf7 functions as a versatile cytoskeletal linker protein and pla ys an important role in neural, muscle, and lung development. (C) 2000 Wile y-Liss, Inc.