Coordination of Actin and Microtubule Dynamics by the Formin Protein Dishevelled-associated Activator of Morphogenesis

Abstract

Essential components of the eukaryotic cells are the polymer networks built from protein subunits; including microfilaments (or actin filaments, AF), intermediate filaments (IF) and microtubules (MT). These cytoskeletal protein arrays have fundamental roles in virtually all cellular functions; including but not limited to cell division, motility, adhesion, signaling, endocytic trafficking and transport. Health relies on proper cellular functionality governed by the spatiotemporal regulation of the morphology and dynamics of these polymer networks, which is orchestrated by a large repertoire of associated proteins. Therefore, understanding the functional and structural principles of the regulation of these cytoskeletal polymers is basic for medicine and life sciences.