Seb Carreno Lab

Cell Biology of Cell Division

ERMs & Cell division.

Drosophila S2 cells knocked down for Moesin and labelled for Actin (red), Microtubules (green) and DNA (blue)

Proteins of the ERM family (Ezrin, Radixin and Moesin) act as dynamic linkers between the actin cytoskeleton and the plasma membrane. ERM proteins cycle between an active form that interacts with both plasma membrane proteins and actin filaments, and an inactive form that localizes mostly in the cytosol. Members of the ERM family are critical determinants for cancer cell metastasis. Indeed, deregulation of ERM protein expression has been shown to be implicated in the metastatic potential of several cancers including metastatic rhabdomyosarcoma, osteosarcoma and mammary carcinoma. An overlooked aspect of the role of ERM proteins in cancer metastasis is their possible function in the regulation of cell division. ERM proteins have long been known to accumulate at the cleavage furrow of dividing cells; however, investigation of their role was hampered by functional redundancy between Ezrin, Radixin and Moesin in vertebrates. Drosophila melanogaster encodes a unique ERM protein (dMoesin) and has emerged as a promising model to elucidate the function of ERM proteins. We have previously demonstrated that during cell division, Moesin regulates the MT/Actin crosstalk, thereby coordinating cell shape transformations with mitotic spindle positioning.

Identification of Moesin as one of the first protein that coordinates the MT/Actin crosstalk represents a unique opportunity to understand the regulation of this process.

INTRODUCTION

 ERMs & Cell division

P-inositides & Cell division

MT dynamics during cell division