From Cytoskeleton to Gene Expression: Actin in the Nucleus.
Although most people still associate actin mainly with the cytoskeleton, several lines of evidence, with the earliest studies dating back to decades ago, have emphasized the importance of actin also inside the cell nucleus. Actin has been linked to many gene expression processes from gene activation to chromatin remodeling, but also to maintenance of genomic integrity and intranuclear movement of chromosomes and chromosomal loci. Recent advances in visualizing different forms and dynamic properties of nuclear actin have clearly advanced our understanding of the basic concepts by which actin operates in the nucleus. In this chapter we address the different breakthroughs in nuclear actin studies, as well as discuss the regulation nuclear actin and the importance of nuclear actin dynamics in relation to its different nuclear functions. Our aim is to highlight the fact that actin should be considered as an essential component of the cell nucleus, and its nuclear actions should be taken into account also in experiments on cytoplasmic actin networks.
Program in Cell and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, 56, Helsinki, Finland.
Tiina
T
Viita
Program in Cell and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, 56, Helsinki, Finland. maria.vartiainen@helsinki.fi.
Maria K
MK
Vartiainen
D000199:Actins / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D021581:Active Transport, Cell Nucleus; D000818:Animals; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D042002:Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000502:physiology*; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D015533:Transcriptional Activation
D000199:Actins; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases
Actin; Gene expression; Nuclear actin; Nuclear organization