title: Formins: intermediates in signal-transduction cascades that affect cytoskeletal reorganization.
abstract: The control of cell growth and polarity depends on a dynamic actin cytoskeleton that has the ability to reorganize in response to developmental and environmental stimuli. In animals and fungi, formins are just one of the four major classes of poly-L-proline-containing (PLP) proteins that form part of the signal-transduction cascade that leads to rearrangement of the actin cytoskeleton. Analysis of the Arabidopsis genome sequence indicates that, unlike animals and fungi, formins are the only class of conserved profilin-binding PLP proteins in plants. Moreover, plant formins show significant structural differences compared with their animal and fungal counterparts, raising the possibility that plant formins are subject to novel mechanisms of control or perform unique roles in plants.
authors.affiliation: The Integrative Cell Biology Laboratory, School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, University of Durham, South Road, UK DH1 3LE. michael.deeks@durham.ac.uk
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Deeks
authors.forename: Patrick J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Hussey
authors.forename: Brendan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Davies
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D016764:Cell Polarity / Q000502:physiology; D003285:Contractile Proteins; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D000080865:Formins; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D010802:Phylogeny; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051304:Profilins; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: C417969:AFH1 protein, Arabidopsis; D000199:Actins; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D003285:Contractile Proteins; D000080865:Formins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; C495746:PRF1 protein, Arabidopsis; D010940:Plant Proteins; D051304:Profilins