Actin and actin-binding proteins in higher plants

Protoplasma. 2001;215(1-4):89-104. doi: 10.1007/BF01280306.

Abstract

The actin cytoskeleton is a complex and dynamic structure that participates in diverse cellular events which contribute to plant morphogenesis and development. Plant actins and associated actin-binding proteins are encoded by large, differentially expressed gene families. The complexity of these gene families is thought to have been conserved to maintain a pool of protein isovariants with unique properties, thus providing a mechanistic basis for the observed diversity of plant actin functions. Plants contain actin-binding proteins which regulate the supramolecular organization and function of the actin cytoskeleton, including monomer-binding proteins (profilin), severing and dynamizing proteins (ADF/cofilin), and side-binding proteins (fimbrin, 135-ABP/villin, 115-ABP). Although significant progress in documenting the biochemical activities of many of these classes of proteins has been made, the precise roles of actin-binding proteins in vivo awaits clarification by detailed mutational analyses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Actins / genetics
  • Actins / metabolism*
  • Arabidopsis / genetics
  • Arabidopsis / metabolism
  • Arabidopsis / ultrastructure
  • Cytoskeleton / metabolism*
  • Genes, Plant
  • Humans
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / metabolism
  • Microfilament Proteins / metabolism*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Plant Proteins / genetics
  • Plant Proteins / metabolism
  • Plants / genetics
  • Plants / metabolism*
  • Plants / ultrastructure
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary

Substances

  • Actins
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Microfilament Proteins
  • Plant Proteins
  • plastin