{
  "abstract": "Z-discs define sarcomere boundaries and anchor actin filaments in muscle, yet many structural components remain uncharacterized. In this paper, we identify three new members of the Alp/Enigma family in Drosophila, including Uchmaz (CG42319), a PDZ domain-containing protein, that we characterize in detail. We used CRISPR/Cas9 to generate multiple uchmaz knockout alleles, which are viable but result in a flightless phenotype. Mutants exhibit disrupted sarcomere organization in the indirect flight muscles (IFMs), including fragmented and misaligned Z-discs and reduced accumulation of α-Actinin and other Z-disk markers. We find that Uchmaz localizes to the Z-disk, associates with α-Actinin, and is dependent upon α-Actinin for its localization to the Z-disk. These results identify Uchmaz as a component of IFM myofibril architecture required for muscle function. Since a human ortholog of uchmaz, PDLIM2, is associated with severe muscle dysfunction in muscular dystrophies and myofibrillar myopathy, our studies provide insight into conserved mechanisms of Z-disk assembly and its relevance to human muscle disease.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182"
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 5,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Ebru Robinson"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Yiannis Alvarado"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Sarah Mason"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Shayla Tran"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Richard M. Cripps"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/8m9159zzchgy7.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1091/mbc.e26-06-0293",
  "fulltext_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13729837/",
  "id": "8m9159zzchgy7",
  "issns": [
    "1059-1524",
    "1939-4586"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1091/mbc.e26-06-0293",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "Article"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "1312|Muscle Physiology and Disorders"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7214924492",
  "pdf_url": null,
  "pmcid": "PMC13729837",
  "pmid": "42814603",
  "published": "2026-10-30",
  "publisher": "American Society for Cell Biology",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/8m9159zzchgy7.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-07T12:22:34Z",
      "native_id": "PMC13729837",
      "source": "pmc",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1091/mbc.e26-06-0293"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biochemistry",
      "origin": "openalex:1312|Muscle Physiology and Disorders",
      "subfield": "molecular-biology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "A novel Drosophila ALP/Enigma protein binds to Alpha-actinin to promote sarcomere assembly",
  "title_text": "A novel Drosophila ALP/Enigma protein binds to Alpha-actinin to promote sarcomere assembly",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-07T12:22:34Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/8m9159zzchgy7",
  "venue": "Molecular Biology of the Cell",
  "versions": []
}