title: CLIC proteins, ezrin, radixin, moesin and the coupling of membranes to the actin cytoskeleton: a smoking gun?
abstract: The CLIC proteins are a highly conserved family of metazoan proteins with the unusual ability to adopt both soluble and integral membrane forms. The physiological functions of CLIC proteins may include enzymatic activity in the soluble form and anion channel activity in the integral membrane form. CLIC proteins are associated with the ERM proteins: ezrin, radixin and moesin. ERM proteins act as cross-linkers between membranes and the cortical actin cytoskeleton. Both CLIC and ERM proteins are controlled by Rho family small GTPases. CLIC proteins, ERM and Rho GTPases act in a concerted manner to control active membrane processes including the maintenance of microvillar structures, phagocytosis and vesicle trafficking. All of these processes involve the interaction of membranes with the underlying cortical actin cytoskeleton. The relationships between Rho GTPases, CLIC proteins, ERM proteins and the membrane:actin cytoskeleton interface are reviewed. Speculative models are proposed involving the formation of localised multi-protein complexes on the membrane surface that assemble via multiple weak interactions. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Reciprocal influences between cell cytoskeleton and membrane channels, receptors and transporters. Guest Editor: Jean Claude Hervé.
authors.affiliation: St Vincent's Centre for Applied Medical Research, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia.
authors.forename: Lele
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: School of Physics, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: Juanita M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Phang
authors.affiliation: School of Physics, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: Jiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: School of Physics, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Harrop
authors.affiliation: Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Lucas Heights, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Anna V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Sokolova
authors.affiliation: Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Lucas Heights, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Anthony P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Duff
authors.affiliation: School of Physics, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: Krystyna E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Wilk
authors.affiliation: School of Medical and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia.
authors.forename: Heba
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Alkhamici
authors.affiliation: St Vincent's Centre for Applied Medical Research, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia.
authors.forename: Samuel N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Breit
authors.affiliation: School of Medical and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia.
authors.forename: Stella M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Valenzuela
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia.
authors.forename: Louise J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: St Vincent's Centre for Applied Medical Research, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia; School of Physics, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia. Electronic address: p.curmi@unsw.edu.au.
authors.forename: Paul M G
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Curmi
mesh_terms: D008841:Actin Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000099149:Ezrin
chemical_list: D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D000099149:Ezrin; C071058:moesin; C071776:radixin
keywords: Actin cytoskeleton; CLIC; Ezrin, radixin, moesin; Membrane remodeling; Rho GTPase; Vesicle trafficking