*601443
COFILIN 2; CFL2

Alternative titles; symbols
COFILIN, MUSCLE

HGNC Approved Gene Symbol: CFL2

Cytogenetic location: 14q13.1     Genomic coordinates (GRCh37): 14:35,179,587 - 35,184,028 (from NCBI)

Gene Phenotype Relationships
Location Phenotype Phenotype
MIM number
14q13.1 Nemaline myopathy 7 610687

TEXT
Description
Cofilin is a widely distributed intracellular actin-modulating protein that binds and depolymerizes filamentous F-actin and inhibits the polymerization of monomeric G-actin in a pH-dependent manner. (Gillett et al., 1996). Cofilin-2 is a member of the AC group of proteins that also includes cofilin-1 (CFL1) and destrin (DSTN; 609114), all of which regulate actin-filament dynamics (Bamburg et al., 1999; Maciver and Hussey, 2002). The CFL2 gene encodes a skeletal muscle-specific isoform (Vartiainen et al., 2002) localized to the thin filaments, where it exerts its effect on actin, in part through interactions with tropomyosins (Ono and Ono, 2002).

Mapping
Gillett et al. (1996) mapped CFL2, the human muscle-type (M-type) cofilin, to chromosome 14 by analysis of a somatic cell hybrid panel using an expressed sequence tag (EST) with homology to the mouse muscle-type cofilin and chicken cofilin. See also CFL1 (601442).

Molecular Genetics
Agrawal et al. (2007) used genomic PCR and DNA sequencing to screen the CFL2 gene in 113 unrelated patients with nemaline myopathy and 58 patients with clinical pathologic diagnoses of other congenital myopathies. None of the patients had known mutations in previously identified genes. In 2 sibs with nemaline myopathy (NEM7; 610687) in a large family of Middle Eastern origin, Agrawal et al. (2007) identified a homozygous mutation in the CFL2 gene (A35T; 601443.0001). The proband's muscle contained characteristic nemaline bodies, as well as occasional fibers with minicores, concentric laminated bodies, and areas of F-actin accumulation. Cofilin-2 levels were significantly lower in the proband's muscle, and the mutant protein was less soluble when expressed in Escherichia coli, suggesting that deficiency of cofilin-2 may result in reduced depolymerization of actin filaments, causing their accumulation in nemaline bodies, minicores, and, possibly concentric laminated bodies.

ALLELIC VARIANTS (Selected Examples):

.0001 NEMALINE MYOPATHY 7
CFL2, ALA35THR [dbSNP:rs80358250]

In 2 sisters in a family of Middle Eastern origin, Agrawal et al. (2007) found that nemaline myopathy with some unusual histopathologic and clinical features (NEM7; 610687) was related to homozygous mutation of the CFL2 gene, 103G-A, predicted to result in an alanine-to-threonine substitution at residue 35 (A35T). An unaffected sib, both unaffected parents, and a number of other members of the extended family were heterozygous for this change. Extensive intermarriage, with multiple consanguinity loops, strongly suggested identity by descent for the 2 mutant alleles, a supposition that was supported by linkage studies using flanking markers. The mutation was ruled out in 282 unaffected control individuals, including 91 originating from the same geographic region and ethnic group as the family.

REFERENCES
1. Agrawal, P. B., Greenleaf, R. S., Tomczak, K. K., Lehtokari, V.-L., Wallgren-Pettersson, C., Wallefeld, W., Laing, N. G., Darras, B. T., Maciver, S. K., Dormitzer, P. R., Beggs, A. H. Nemaline myopathy with minicores caused by mutation of the CFL2 gene encoding the skeletal muscle actin-binding protein, cofilin-2. Am. J. Hum. Genet. 80: 162-167, 2007. [PubMed: 17160903, related citations] [Full Text: Elsevier Science, Pubget]

2. Bamburg, J. R., McGough, A., Ono, S. Putting a new twist on actin: ADF/cofilins modulate actin dynamics. Trends Cell Biol. 9: 364-370, 1999. [PubMed: 10461190, related citations] [Full Text: Elsevier Science, Pubget]

3. Gillett, G. T., Fox, M. F., Rowe, P. S. N., Casimir, C. M., Povey, S. Mapping of human non-muscle type cofilin (CFL1) to chromosome 11q13 and muscle-type cofilin (CFL2) to chromosome 14. Ann. Hum. Genet. 60: 201-211, 1996. [PubMed: 8800436, related citations] [Full Text: Pubget]

4. Maciver, M. K., Hussey, P. J. The ADF/cofilin family: actin-remodeling proteins. Genome Biol. 3: , 2002. Note: reviews3007.

5. Ono, S., Ono, K. Tropomyosin inhibits ADF/cofilin-dependent actin filament dynamics. J. Cell Biol. 156: 1065-1076, 2002. [PubMed: 11901171, related citations] [Full Text: HighWire Press, Pubget]

6. Vartiainen, M. K., Mustonen, T., Mattila, P. K., Ojala, P. J., Thesleff, I., Partanen, J., Lappalainen, P. The three mouse actin-depolymerizing factor/cofilins evolved to fulfill cell-type-specific requirements for actin dynamics. Molec. Biol. Cell 13: 183-194, 2002. [PubMed: 11809832, related citations] [Full Text: HighWire Press, Pubget]

Contributors: Victor A. McKusick - updated : 1/3/2007
Creation Date: Lori M. Kelman : 9/23/1996
Edit History: alopez : 01/05/2007
terry : 1/3/2007
mark : 4/10/1997
mark : 9/24/1996
mark : 9/23/1996
mark : 9/23/1996