title: Effects of Vesl/Homer proteins on intracellular signaling.
abstract: The clustering of signaling molecules at specialized cellular sites allows cells to effectively convert extracellular signals into intracellular signals and to produce a concerted functional output with specific temporal and spatial patterns. A prime example for these molecules and their effects on cellular signaling are the postsynaptic density proteins of the central nervous system. Recently, one group of these proteins, the Vesl/Homer protein family has received increased attention because of its unique molecular properties that allow both the clustering and functional modulation of a plethora of different binding proteins. Within multiprotein signaling complexes, Vesl/Homer proteins influence proteins as diverse as metabotropic glutamate receptors; transient receptor potential channels; intra-cellular calcium channels; the scaffolding protein, Shank; small GTPases; transcription factors; and cytoskeletal proteins. Furthermore, interaction with such functionally relevant proteins also links Vesl/Homer proteins indirectly to an even larger group of cellular effector proteins, putting the Vesl/Homer proteins at the crossroads of several critical intracellular signaling processes. In addition to the initial reports of Vesl/Homer protein expression in the central nervous system, members of this protein family have now been identified in other excitable cells in various muscle types and in a large number of nonexcitable cells. The widespread expression of Vesl/Homer proteins in different organs and their functional importance in cellular protein signaling complexes is further evidenced by their conservation in organisms from Drosophila to humans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, 3500 Camp Bowie Boulevard, Fort Worth, Texas 76107-2699, USA.
authors.forename: R Scott
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Duncan
authors.forename: Sung-Yong
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Koulen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001519:Behavior; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D000072233:Homer Scaffolding Proteins; D006801:Humans; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D000072233:Homer Scaffolding Proteins; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D020033:Protein Isoforms; C000606630:homer protein, Drosophila