Microtubule Associated Monoxygenase, Calponin And LIM Domain Containing Protein 1 (MICAL1)

The 118-kD, 1,067-amino acid MICAL protein has a calponin homology domain, a LIM domain, a putative leucine zipper motif, and a proline-rich PPKPP sequence. MICAL associates with CASL through the PPKPP sequence. Northern blot analysis of hematopoietic cell lines and murine tissues showed that MICAL is expressed in thymus, lung, spleen, kidney, testis, and hematopoietic cells. MICAL is a cytoplasmic protein that colocalizes with CASL at the perinuclear area. Through its C-terminal region, MICAL also associates with vimentin , a major component of intermediate filaments. Immunostaining revealed that MICAL localizes along with vimentin intermediate filaments. These results suggested that MICAL may be a cytoskeletal regulator that connects CASL to intermediate filaments.