title: Pombe Cdc15 homology proteins: regulators of membrane dynamics and the actin cytoskeleton.
abstract: Pombe Cdc15 homology (PCH) proteins have emerged in many species as important coordinators of signalling pathways that regulate actomyosin assembly and membrane dynamics. For example, the prototype PCH protein, Cdc15p of Schizosaccharomyces pombe, has a role in assembly of the contractile ring, which is needed to separate dividing cells. Recently, mammalian PCH proteins have been found to bind phospholipids and to participate in membrane deformation. These findings suggest that PCH proteins are crucial linkers of membrane dynamics and actin polymerization, for example, during the internalization of transmembrane receptors. Intriguingly, some members of the PCH protein family are mutated in neurodegenerative and inflammatory diseases, which has implications for the identification of cures for such disorders.
authors.affiliation: Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Biomedical Center, Uppsala University, SE-751 24 Uppsala, Sweden. pontus.aspenstrom@licr.uu.se
authors.forename: Pontus
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Aspenström
authors.forename: Asa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fransson
authors.forename: Ninna
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Richnau
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism*; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D008954:Models, Biological; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D009154:Mutation; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases; D010802:Phylogeny; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D012568:Schizosaccharomyces / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; C082279:CDC15 protein; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins