Plant formins: membrane anchors for actin polymerization

Abstract

In plants, the actin cytoskeleton plays a fundamental role in intracellular transport, cell growth, and morphology. Formins are central regulators of actin polymerization and actin-based processes in many eukaryotes. Plants have a diverse family of formins and this diversity arose early in land plant evolution, probably deriving from family expansion and domain acquisition. Recently, formins from different plant lineages have been studied and the focus of these studies is beginning to shift from biochemical characterization to in vivo function. In vivo studies have shown that distinct biochemical activities confer specific cellular functions. Despite these differences, many plant formins have in common a direct link to the plasma membrane, suggesting that formins in plants are important links between the plasma membrane and actin remodeling.