The epithelial cell cytoskeleton and intracellular trafficking. III. How is villin involved in the actin cytoskeleton dynamics in intestinal cells?

Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 2002 Sep;283(3):G496-502. doi: 10.1152/ajpgi.00207.2002.

Abstract

Villin plays a key role in the maintenance of the brush border organization by bundling F-actin into a network of parallel filaments. Our previous in vivo data on villin knockout mice showed that, although this protein is not necessary for the bundling of F-actin, it is important for the reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton elicited by stress conditions. We further investigated villin property to initiate actin remodeling in cellular processes such as hepatocyte growth factor-induced motility, morphogenesis, and bacterial infection. Our data suggest that villin is involved in actin remodeling necessary for many cellular processes requiring the actin cytoskeleton plasticity.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Actins / physiology
  • Animals
  • Carrier Proteins / chemistry
  • Carrier Proteins / physiology*
  • Cell Movement / physiology
  • Cytoskeleton / physiology*
  • Epithelial Cells / physiology
  • Humans
  • Intestines / cytology
  • Intestines / physiology*
  • Microfilament Proteins / chemistry
  • Microfilament Proteins / physiology*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Actins
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Microfilament Proteins
  • villin