title: The role of the Nir/rdgB protein family in membrane trafficking and cytoskeleton remodeling.
abstract: The Nir/rdgB family of proteins has been identified in a variety of eukaryotic organisms, ranging from worms to mammals. The Drosophila retinal degeneration B (rdgB), a protein that is required for photoreceptor cell viability and light response, was the first to be identified. It consists an amino-terminal phosphatidylinositol (PI)-transfer domain and was proposed to play an essential role in photoreceptor membrane renewal and biogenesis. The other Nir/rdgB family members are functionally and structurally related to the Drosophila homolog and are implicated in regulation of lipid trafficking, metabolism, and signaling. Recent advances have revealed that Nir/rdgB proteins are also involved in regulation of cytoskeletal elements. Thus, these family members exert a broad spectrum of cellular functions and are involved in multiple cellular processes. The physiological functions of these closely related proteins are described in this review.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel. sima.lec@weizmann.ac.il
authors.forename: Sima
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lev
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000378:metabolism; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary / Q000502:physiology; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D005136:Eye Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C113505:PITPNM1 protein, human; D010743:Phospholipids; C068848:rdgB protein, Drosophila