Small is beautiful: what flies tell us about ERM protein function in development

Actin dynamics is recognized as being a determinant in many developmental processes and pathologies, such as cell polarity, morphogenesis and tumour metastasis. However, how actin interacts with the plasma membrane is poorly understood. Although numerous studies in cell culture point to the crucial...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Trends in cell biology 2004-06, Vol.14 (6), p.294-302
Main Authors: Polesello, Cédric, Payre, François
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Actins
Actins - metabolism
Animals
Biochemistry, Molecular Biology
Blood Proteins
Blood Proteins - chemistry
Blood Proteins - metabolism
Blood Proteins - physiology
Cell Membrane
Cell Membrane - metabolism
Cytoskeletal Proteins
Cytoskeletal Proteins - chemistry
Cytoskeletal Proteins - metabolism
Cytoskeletal Proteins - physiology
Drosophila
Life Sciences
Membrane Proteins
Membrane Proteins - chemistry
Membrane Proteins - metabolism
Membrane Proteins - physiology
Mice
Models, Biological
Phosphoproteins
Phosphoproteins - chemistry
Phosphoproteins - metabolism
Phosphoproteins - physiology
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Summary:Actin dynamics is recognized as being a determinant in many developmental processes and pathologies, such as cell polarity, morphogenesis and tumour metastasis. However, how actin interacts with the plasma membrane is poorly understood. Although numerous studies in cell culture point to the crucial role of Ezrin, Radixin and Moesin (ERM) proteins in the actin-membrane link, genetic approaches in mice have not yet revealed their activity during development. Drosophila has recently become an alternative and promising system for the genetic study of ERM protein function. This article focuses on advances made in flies, providing evidence for the evolutionary conservation of functional properties of ERM proteins, in addition to shedding new light on their importance for development.
ISSN:0962-8924
1879-3088
DOI:10.1016/j.tcb.2004.04.003