title: Microtubule-associated proteins as direct crosslinkers of actin filaments and microtubules.
abstract: The cytoskeletal polymers--actin, microtubules, and intermediate filaments--are interlinked by coordinated protein interactions to form a complex three-dimensional cytoskeletal network. Association of actin filaments with microtubules is important for various cellular processes such as cell division, migration, vesicle and organelle transport, and axonal growth. Several proteins including signaling molecules, motor proteins, and proteins directly or indirectly associated with microtubules and actin are involved in bridging the cytoskeletal components. Microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) belonging to the MAP1, 2, 4 family and Tau proteins have been identified as key players that directly crosslink the two cytoskeletons. This review summarizes the current understanding of the interactions of these MAPs with actin filaments and their role in forming the actin-microtubule network and further discusses how the in vitro reconstitution assays can be used to study the dynamics of coordinated networks. Understanding the mechanisms by which actin and microtubules interact is key to decipher cancer, wound healing, and neuronal regeneration.
authors.affiliation: Transmission Electron Microscope Laboratory, Biomedical Technology Wing, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Renu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mohan
authors.affiliation: Transmission Electron Microscope Laboratory, Biomedical Technology Wing, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Annie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: John
mesh_terms: D008841:Actin Cytoskeleton / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D008870:Microtubules / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D016875:tau Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; C493240:MAP1S protein, human; C489788:MAP2 protein, human; C000601103:MAP4 protein, human; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D016875:tau Proteins
keywords: actin-microtubule interaction; direct crosslinking; microtubule-associated proteins