Purification of mammalian filamin. Similarity to high molecular weight actin-binding protein in macrophages, platelets, fibroblasts, and other tissues.

We have purified the high molecular weight actin-binding protein, filamin from guinea pig vas deferens. We find this mammalian filamin is very similar to chicken gizzard filamin in subunit molecular weight, amnio acid composition, actin-binding properties, immunological cross-reactivity, and the ability to be phosphorylated by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. Anti-filamin antibodies cross-react with a high molecular weight macrophage actin-binding protein, and with a high molecular weight protein in platelets and fibroblasts. Furthermore like filamin, these proteins are also phosphorylated and cyclic AMP stimulates their phosphorylation. Anti-filamin antibodies do not cross-react with the erythrocyte membrane protein spectrin or with high molecular weight proteins in brain extracts. We conclude that filamin from avian and mammalian smooth muscle are very similar proteins and furthermore that many, but not all, non-muscle cells contain a protein closely related to filamin.