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Plastins: versatile modulators of actin organization in (patho)physiological cellular processes.
Veerle Delanote1, Joel Vandekerckhove, Jan Gettemans
1Department of Medical Protein Research, Flanders Interuniversity Institute for Biotechnology (VIB), Ghent University, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Albert Baertsoenkaai 3, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
Acta Pharmacologica Sinica
|June 18, 2005
Summary
Plastins are actin-binding proteins that bundle actin filaments. Different plastin isoforms have distinct roles in cell functions, disease, and bacterial invasion.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Actin-binding proteins regulate the actin cytoskeleton.
- Plastins (fimbrins) are actin bundling proteins crucial for cellular organization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the characteristics and functions of plastins.
- To highlight the roles of different plastin isoforms in cellular processes and disease.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of plastin research.
- Analysis of plastin isoform expression and function.
Main Results:
- Three mammalian plastin isoforms exist: T-plastin (solid tissues), L-plastin (hematopoietic cells), and I-plastin (intestine, colon, kidney).
- Plastins cross-link actin filaments into bundles, influencing cell migration, adhesion, and bacterial invasion.
- L-plastin is vital for leukocyte function, while T-plastin may be involved in DNA repair.
Conclusions:
- Plastins are key regulators of the actin cytoskeleton with diverse cellular functions.
- Plastin isoforms have specific expression patterns and roles.
- Plastins are implicated in diseases, with L-plastin serving as a cancer marker.
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