0109160 - UEB-Q 20043083 RIV AT eng J - Journal Article
Cvrčková, F. - Rivero, F. - Bavlnka, Břetislav
Evolutionarily conserved modules in actin nucleation: lessons from Dictyostelium discoideum and plants.
[Evolutionarily conserved modules in actin nucleation: lessons from Dictyostelium discoideum and plants.]
Protoplasma. Roč. 224, 1/2 (2004), s. 15-31. ISSN 0033-183X. E-ISSN 1615-6102
R&D Projects: GA ČR GA204/02/1461; GA MŠMT LN00A081
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z5038910
Keywords : actin nucleation * Dictyostelium discoideum * Arabidopsis thaliana
Subject RIV: EF - Botanics
Impact factor: 1.625, year: 2004

The actin cytoskeleton plays a central part in the dynamic organization of eukaryotic cell structure. Nucleation of actin filaments is a crucial step in the establishment of new cytoskeletal structures or modification of existing ones, providing abundant targets for regulatory processes. A substantial part of our understanding of actin nucleation derives from studies on yeast and metazoan cells. However, recent advances in structural and functional genome analysis in less traditional models, such as plants or Dictyostelium discoideum, provide an emerging picture of an evolutionarily conserved core of at least two actin nucleation mechanisms, one mediated by the Arp2/3 complex and the other one by the formin-based module. A considerable degree of conservation is found also in the systems controlling the balance between filamentous and globular actin (profilin, actin-depolymerizing factor/cofilin) and even in certain regulatory aspects, such as the involvement of Rho-related small GTPases. Identification of such conserved elements provides a prerequisite for the characterization of evolutionarily variable aspects of actin regulation which may be responsible for the rich morphological diversity of eukaryotic cells.

Evolutionarily conserved modules in actin nucleation: lessons from Dictyostelium discoideum and plants.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0016270