title: Regulation of cell structure and function by actin-binding proteins: villin's perspective.
abstract: Villin is a tissue-specific actin modifying protein that is associated with actin filaments in the microvilli and terminal web of epithelial cells. It belongs to a large family of actin-binding proteins which includes actin-capping, -nucleating and/or -severing proteins such as gelsolin, severin, fragmin, adseverin/scinderin and actin crosslinking proteins such as dematin and supervillin. Studies done in epithelial cell lines and villin knock-out mice have demonstrated the function of villin in regulating actin dynamics, cell morphology, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, cell migration and cell survival. In addition, the ligand-binding properties of villin (F-actin, G-actin, calcium, phospholipids and phospholipase C-gamma1) are mechanistically important for the crosstalk between signaling pathways and actin reorganization in epithelial cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 894 Union Avenue, Nash 402, Memphis, TN 38163, United States. skhurana@utmem.edu
authors.forename: Seema
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khurana
authors.forename: Sudeep P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: George
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002465:Cell Movement; D002470:Cell Survival; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; C026615:villin