The many faces of actin: matching assembly factors with cellular structures.
Actin filaments are major components of at least 15 distinct structures in metazoan cells. These filaments assemble from a common pool of actin monomers, but do so at different times and places, and in response to different stimuli. All of these structures require actin-filament assembly factors. To date, many assembly factors have been identified, including Arp2/3 complex, multiple formin isoforms and spire. Now, a major task is to figure out which factors assemble which actin-based structures. Here, we focus on structures at the plasma membrane, including both sheet-like protrusive structures (such as lamellipodia and ruffles) and finger-like protrusions (such as filopodia and microvilli). Insights gained from studies of adherens junctions and the immunological synapse are also considered.
Chhabra
Ekta Seth
ES
Department of Biochemistry, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, NH 03755, USA.
Higgs
Henry N
HN
D008841:Actin Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism*; D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D011554:Pseudopodia / Q000378:metabolism
D000199:Actins; D008840:Microfilament Proteins