NRAP
Description
The NRAP (nebulin related anchoring protein) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 10.
N-RAP, short for Nebulin-related-anchoring protein, is a muscle-specific protein that plays a role in muscle development and function. It belongs to the nebulin family of proteins, which are involved in the organization of muscle fibers. N-RAP is unique because it has a cysteine-rich LIM domain at its beginning, which is shared with LASP-1 and LASP-2. N-RAP is important for the proper assembly of myofibrils, the contractile units of muscle cells. It helps to organize the myofibrils during development, and it is also involved in cell-cell connections in mature muscle. N-RAP is a 197 kDa protein made up of 1730 amino acids. Like other nebulin family members, it contains repeating units called 'nebulin repeats', which bind to actin. These repeats are arranged in groups of seven to form 'super repeats'. N-RAP's role in myofibril organization is particularly important in heart muscle cells (cardiomyocytes). When N-RAP levels are reduced, myofibrils in developing cardiomyocytes become disorganized. This suggests that N-RAP is essential for the proper function of alpha-actinin, a protein involved in myofibril assembly.
N-RAP is likely involved in connecting the ends of actin filaments in the myofibril to the cell membrane, and in transferring force from the myofibrils to the surrounding tissues.
NRAP is also known as N-RAP.
