title: [Polarity of epithelial cells. Role of the actin microfilament system].
abstract: Polarized epithelial cells display a cell surface organization well adapted to their specialized functions in transports and exchanges with the external "milieu". The numerous microvilli that cover the apical plasma membrane arc supported by bundles of actin microfilaments and associated actin binding proteins. Three independent experimental approaches have been used to unravel the function(s) of villin: a) overexpression of the villin gene; b)inhibition of villin production with a villin antisense RNA; c) disruption of the villin gene by homologous recombination. The role of ezrine, a protein able to interact both with components of the plasma membrane and with actin microfilaments, in cellular morphogenesis and the signal transduction cascade elicited by the scatter factor (HGF) and its receptor, has also been investigated with molecular cell biology approaches.
authors.affiliation: UMR 144 CNRS/Institut Curie Compartimentation et dynamique cellulaires, Paris.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Louvard
mesh_terms: D008841:Actin Cytoskeleton / Q000502:physiology*; D000199:Actins / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D016764:Cell Polarity; D004848:Epithelium / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007687:Kidney Tubules, Proximal / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D008871:Microvilli / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; C026615:villin