Actin Filament Binding in Plant Protein Villin-4

Proteins, such as villin regulate the shape and function of biological cells in most higher organisms including vertebrates and plants. Biochemically, villin proteins bind actin filaments which regulate structural pillars of the cellular cytoskeleton. Generally, plant villins are not as well studied as vertebrate villins. Recently a novel structure within plant villins was discovered in the form of a large internal disordered region referred to as VLN4 Linker. In this experiment we used actin spin-down assays, SDS-PAGE electrophoresis and HPLC to probe the capacity of the VLN4 Linker to bind actin filaments.