An atomic model of fimbrin binding to F-actin and its implications for filament crosslinking and regulation

Using a new procedure that combines electron-density correlation with biochemical information, we have fitted the crystal structure of the N-terminal actin-binding domain of human T-fimbrin to helical reconstructions of fimbrin-decorated actin filaments. The map locates the N-terminal calcium-binding domain and identifies actin-binding site residues on the two calponin-homology domains of fimbrin. Based on this map, we propose a model of a fimbrin crosslink in an actin bundle and its regulation by calcium.