Ankrd1-mediated signaling is supported by its interaction with zonula occludens-1

The muscle ankyrin repeat protein Ankrd1 is localized in a mechanosensory complex of the sarcomeric I-band. It is involved in signaling pathways activated in response to mechanical stretch. It also acts as a transcriptional cofactor in the nucleus, playing an important role in cardiogenesis and skeletal muscle differentiation. To investigate its regulatory function in signaling we employed protein array methodology and identified 10 novel Ankrd1 binding partners among PDZ domain proteins known to act as platforms for multiprotein complex assembly. The zonula occludens protein-1 (ZO-1) was chosen for further analysis since its interaction with Ankrd2 had already been demonstrated. Both Ankrd2 and Ankrd1 have similar functions and localize in the same regions. We confirmed the interaction of Ankrd1 with ZO-1 protein and determined their subcellular distribution in HeLa cells, showing their colocalization in the cytoplasm. Our findings corroborate the role of Ankrd1 in intracellular signaling.