title: Profilin-1 versus profilin-2: two faces of the same coin?
abstract: Proteins belonging to the profilin family of actin-binding proteins are considered to be important control elements for actin polymerization and have been linked to a broad spectrum of cellular functions, including cell migration. An intriguing paper recently published in Cancer Cell unveils differential effects of profilin-1 and profilin-2, the two major isoforms of profilin, on actin cytoskeletal regulation, motility, and invasion of breast cancer cells, and further establishes a mechanism underlying profilin-2's suppressive effect on breast cancer cell migration. This viewpoint discusses the implications of these findings in the context of how profilins might regulate breast cancer cell motility.
authors.forename: Zhijie
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Partha
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Roy
mesh_terms: D008841:Actin Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D051304:Profilins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding
chemical_list: D051304:Profilins