Caldesmon

Template:Short description Template:Infobox gene Caldesmon is a protein that in humans is encoded by the CALD1 gene.

Caldesmon is a calmodulin binding protein. Like calponin, caldesmon tonically inhibits the ATPase activity of myosin in smooth muscle.

This gene encodes a calmodulin- and actin-binding protein that plays an essential role in the regulation of smooth muscle and nonmuscle contraction. The conserved domain of this protein possesses the binding activities to ${\text{Ca}}^{2+}$-calmodulin, actin, tropomyosin, myosin, and phospholipids. This protein is a potent inhibitor of the actin-tropomyosin activated myosin MgATPase, and serves as a mediating factor for ${\text{Ca}}^{2+}$-dependent inhibition of smooth muscle contraction. Alternative splicing of this gene results in multiple transcript variants encoding distinct isoforms.

Immunochemistry

In diagnostic immunochemistry, caldesmon is a marker for smooth muscle differentiation.

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