Plant villins: Versatile actin regulatory proteins  

作　　者：Shanjin Huang Xiaolu Qu Ruihui Zhang 

机构地区：[1]Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Physiology, Institute of Botany, the Chinese Academy of Sciences

出　　处：《Journal of Integrative Plant Biology》2015年第1期40-49,共10页植物学报（英文版）

基　　金：supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31125004 and 31071179);the Ministry of Science and Technology of China (2013CB945100 and 2011CB944600)

摘　　要：Regulation of actin dynamics is a central theme in cell biology that is important for different aspects of cell physiology. Villin, a member of the villin/gelsolin/fragmin superfamily of proteins, is an important regulator of actin. Villins contain six gelsolin homology domains （G1-G6） and an extra headpiece domain. In contrast to their mammalian counterparts, plant villins are expressed widely, implying that plant villins play a more general role in regulating actin dynamics. Some plant villins have a defined role in modifying actin dynamics in the pollentube; most of their in vivo activities remain to be ascertained. Recently, our understanding of the functions and mechanisms of action for plant villins has progressed rapidly, primarily due to the advent of Arabidopsis thaliana genetic approaches and imaging capabilities that can visualize actin dynamics at the single filament level in vitro and in living plant cells. In this review, we focus on discussing the biochemical activities and modes of regulation of plant villins. Here, we present current understand- ing of the functions of plant villins. Finally, we highlight some of the key unanswered questions regarding the functions and regulation of plant villins for future research.Regulation of actin dynamics is a central theme in cell biology that is important for different aspects of cell physiology. Villin, a member of the villin/gelsolin/fragmin superfamily of proteins, is an important regulator of actin. Villins contain six gelsolin homology domains （G1-G6） and an extra headpiece domain. In contrast to their mammalian counterparts, plant villins are expressed widely, implying that plant villins play a more general role in regulating actin dynamics. Some plant villins have a defined role in modifying actin dynamics in the pollentube; most of their in vivo activities remain to be ascertained. Recently, our understanding of the functions and mechanisms of action for plant villins has progressed rapidly, primarily due to the advent of Arabidopsis thaliana genetic approaches and imaging capabilities that can visualize actin dynamics at the single filament level in vitro and in living plant cells. In this review, we focus on discussing the biochemical activities and modes of regulation of plant villins. Here, we present current understand- ing of the functions of plant villins. Finally, we highlight some of the key unanswered questions regarding the functions and regulation of plant villins for future research.

关 键 词：Actin bundle actin capping actin cytoskeleton filamentsevering VILLIN 

分 类 号：Q942.6[生物学—植物学]