A vertebrate actin-related protein is a component of a multisubunit complex involved in microtubule-based vesicle motility

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Abstract
ACTIN is a cytoskeletal protein which is highly conserved across eukaryotic phyla. Actin filaments, in association with a family of myosin motor proteins, are required for cellular motile processes as diverse as vesicle transport, cell locomotion and cytokinesis1,2. Many organisms have several closely related actin isoforms3,4. In addition to conventional actins, yeasts contain actin-related proteins that are essential for viability5,6. We show here that vertebrates also contain an actin-related protein (actin-RPV). Actin-RPV is a major component of the dynactin complex, an activator of dynein-driven vesicle movement7,8, indicating that unlike conventional actins which work in conjunction with myosin motors, actin-RPV may be involved in cytoplasmic movements via a microtubule-based system.