How do Abl family kinases regulate cell shape and movement?

Genetic analysis and studies of normal and leukemia cells in culture have shown that Abl family nonreceptor tyrosine kinases regulate cell morphogenesis and motility. Abl family kinases, which include Drosophila (D-) Abl and the vertebrate Abl and Arg proteins, relay signals from cell surface growth-factor and adhesion receptors to promote cytoskeletal rearrangements. Recent biochemical and crystallographic analyses have clarified the mechanisms by which growth-factor and adhesion receptors might regulate the activity of Abl family kinases. When activated, Abl family kinases can regulate cytoskeletal dynamics by phosphorylating several known cytoskeletal regulatory proteins. In addition, the C-terminal half of Abl family kinases has several domains that bind to cytoskeletal components. Emerging evidence suggests that Abl family kinases can use these domains to directly organize cytoskeletal structure in vivo.