Figure 1.

α-Actinins are involved in formation and regulation of various cytoskeletal structures in adherent cells including stress fibers and actin caps. Stress fibers link two conventional focal adhesions and are made up of actin filaments cross-linked by α-actinins (shown in the left insert). The actin cytoskeleton can also be directly linked to focal adhesions through α-actinins (shown in the right insert). Actin caps also have a similar composition as stress fibers but are connected to ACAFA at their ends and are directly associated with the nucleus. To see this figure in color, go online.