Alpha actinins belong to the spectrin gene superfamily which represents a diverse group of cytoskeletal proteins, including the alpha and beta spectrins and dystrophins. Alpha actinin is an actin-binding protein with multiple roles in different cell types. In nonmuscle cells, the cytoskeletal isoform is found along microfilament bundles and adherens-type junctions, where it is involved in binding actin to the membrane. In contrast, skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscle isoforms are localized to the Z-disc and analogous dense bodies, where they help anchor the myofibrillar actin filaments. This gene encodes a muscle-specific, alpha actinin isoform that is expressed in both skeletal and cardiac muscles. Several transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene.,ACTN2,CMD1AA,CMH23,Signal Transduction,Cell Biology & Developmental Biology,Apoptosis,Cytoskeleton,Microfilaments,Actins,Immunology & Inflammation,T Cell Receptor Signaling Pathway,Cardiovascular,Heart,Contractility,Cardiac arrhythmias,ACTN2