FHOD-1 and profilin protect sarcomeres against contraction-induced deformation> in .

Formin HOmology Domain 2-containing (FHOD) proteins are a subfamily of actin-organizing formins important for striated muscle development in many animals. We showed previously that absence of the sole FHOD protein, FHOD-1, from results in thin body wall muscles with misshapen dense bodies that serve as sarcomere Z-lines. We demonstrate here that mutations predicted to specifically disrupt actin polymerization by FHOD-1 similarly disrupt muscle development, and that FHOD-1 cooperates with profilin PFN-3 for dense body morphogenesis, and with profilins PFN-2 and PFN-3 to promote body wall muscle growth.

FHOD-1/profilin-mediated actin assembly protects sarcomeres against contraction-induced deformation in .

Formin HOmology Domain 2-containing (FHOD) proteins are a subfamily of actin-organizing formins important for striated muscle development in many animals. We showed previously that absence of the sole FHOD protein, FHOD-1, from results in thin body-wall muscles with misshapen dense bodies that serve as sarcomere Z-lines. We demonstrate here that actin polymerization by FHOD-1 is required for its function in muscle development, and that FHOD-1 cooperates with profilin PFN-3 for dense body morphogenesis, and profilins PFN-2 and PFN-3 to promote body-wall muscle growth.