Binds to actin filaments in muscle and non-muscle cells. Plays a central role, in association with the troponin complex, in the calcium dependent regulation of vertebrate striated muscle contraction. Smooth muscle contraction is regulated by interaction with caldesmon. In non-muscle cells is implicated in stabilizing cytoskeleton actin filaments (By similarity). Binds calcium .
Subcellular locations: Cytoplasm, Cytoskeleton
Associates with F-actin stress fibers.
Detected in cardiac tissue and platelets, the form found in cardiac tissue is a higher molecular weight than the form found in platelets. Expressed at higher levels in the platelets of hypertensive patients with cardiac hypertrophy than in the platelets of hypertensive patients without cardiac hypertrophy (at protein level).