We have identified and cloned a novel 42-kDa protein termed alpha-parvin, which has a single alpha-actinin-like actin-binding domain. Unlike other members of the alpha-actinin superfamily, which are large multidomain proteins, alpha-parvin lacks a rod domain or any other C-terminal structural modules and therefore represents the smallest known protein of the superfamily. We demonstrate that mouse alpha-parvin is widely expressed as two mRNA species generated by alternative use of two polyadenylation signals. We analyzed the actin-binding properties of mouse alpha-parvin and determined the K(d) with muscle F-actin to be 8.4+/-2.1 microM. The GFP-tagged alpha-parvin co-localizes with actin filaments at membrane ruffles, focal contacts and tensin-rich fibers in the central area of fibroblasts. Domain analysis identifies the second calponin homology domain of parvin as a module sufficient for targeting the focal contacts. In man and mouse, a closely related paralogue beta-parvin and a more distant relative gamma-parvin have also been identified and cloned. The availability of the genomic sequences of different organisms enabled us to recognize closely related parvin-like proteins in flies and worms, but not in yeast and Dictyostelium. Phylogenetic analysis of alpha-parvin and its para- and orthologues suggests, that the parvins represent a new family of alpha-actinin-related proteins that mediate cell-matrix adhesion.