title: ERM proteins and merlin: integrators at the cell cortex.
abstract: A fundamental property of many plasma-membrane proteins is their association with the underlying cytoskeleton to determine cell shape, and to participate in adhesion, motility and other plasma-membrane processes, including endocytosis and exocytosis. The ezrin-radixin-moesin (ERM) proteins are crucial components that provide a regulated linkage between membrane proteins and the cortical cytoskeleton, and also participate in signal-transduction pathways. The closely related tumour suppressor merlin shares many properties with ERM proteins, yet also provides a distinct and essential function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA. apb5@cornell.edu
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bretscher
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: Richard G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Fehon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002460:Cell Line; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D016764:Cell Polarity; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological; D005810:Multigene Family; D025581:Neurofibromin 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D010802:Phylogeny; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D000099149:Ezrin
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D025581:Neurofibromin 2; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D000099149:Ezrin; C071058:moesin; C071776:radixin