Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.

Sci. Signal., 28 February 2012
Vol. 5, Issue 213, p. pe7
[DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.2002839]

PERSPECTIVES

How Actin Gets the PIP

Stephen E. Moss*

Department of Cell Biology, University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK.

Abstract: Actin polymerization is fundamental to many cellular activities, including motility, cytokinesis, and vesicle traffic. Actin dynamics must be tightly regulated so that cells execute a response appropriate to need, which is achieved through coordination of the functions of a molecular toolkit of proteins and phospholipids. Among the latter, phosphoinositides have a particularly important role, and PI(4,5)P2 (phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate) generates distinct phenotypic outcomes such as actin comet formation and membrane ruffling. New evidence reveals that it is not just the production of PI(4,5)P2 that is important in determining outcome, but that changes in the abundance of other phosphoinositides also play a role.

* Corresponding author. E-mail: s.moss{at}ucl.ac.uk

Citation: S. E. Moss, How Actin Gets the PIP. Sci. Signal. 5, pe7 (2012).

Read the Full Text

To Advertise     Find Products

Science Signaling. ISSN 1937-9145 (online), 1945-0877 (print). Pre-2008: Science's STKE. ISSN 1525-8882