title: Diversification of caldesmon-linked actin cytoskeleton in cell motility.
abstract: The actin cytoskeleton plays a key role in regulating cell motility. Caldesmon (CaD) is an actin-linked regulatory protein found in smooth muscle and non-muscle cells that is conserved among a variety of vertebrates. It binds and stabilizes actin filaments, as well as regulating actin-myosin interaction in a calcium (Ca2+)/calmodulin (CaM)- and/or phosphorylation-dependent manner. CaD function is regulated qualitatively by Ca2+/CaM and by its phosphorylation state and quantitatively at the mRNA level, by three different transcriptional regulation of the CALD1 gene. CaD has numerous functions in cell motility, such as migration, invasion, and proliferation, exerted via the reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton. Here we will outline recent findings regarding CaD's structural features and functions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Taira
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mayanagi
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sobue
mesh_terms: D008841:Actin Cytoskeleton / Q000502:physiology; D000199:Actins; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002147:Calmodulin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002148:Calmodulin-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002465:Cell Movement; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000502:physiology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D009218:Myosins / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D010802:Phylogeny; D011485:Protein Binding; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D002147:Calmodulin; D002148:Calmodulin-Binding Proteins; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D009218:Myosins; D002118:Calcium