The conserved Pelado/ZSWIM8 protein regulates actin dynamics by promoting linear actin filament polymerization.

ABSTRACT: Actin filament polymerization can be branched or linear, which depends on the associated regulatory proteins. Competition for actin monomers occurs between proteins that induce branched or linear actin polymerization. Cell specialization requires the regulation of actin filaments to allow the formation of cell type-specific structures, like cuticular hairs in <i>Drosophila</i>, formed by linear actin filaments. Here, we report the functional analysis of CG34401/<i>pelado</i>, a gene encoding a SWIM domain-containing protein, conserved throughout the animal kingdom, called ZSWIM8 in mammals. Mutant <i>pelado</i> epithelial cells display actin hair elongation defects. This phenotype is reversed by increasing actin monomer levels or by either pushing linear

SUBMITTER: Molina-Pelayo C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9375228 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature