Yeast Studies Reveal Moonlighting Functions of the Ancient Actin Cytoskeleton

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Evelyn Sattlegger, Massey University; Tatiana Chernova, Emory University; Neeku M. Gogoi, Amity University; Indu V. Pillai, Amity University; Yury O. Chernoff, Georgia Institute of Technology; Alan L. Munn, Griffith University
• Language: English
• Date: 2014-08-01
• Publisher: Wiley
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © 2014 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/iub.1294
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: IUBMB Life
• ISSN: 1521-6543
• Volume: 66
• Issue: 8
• Start Page: 538
• End Page: 545
• Grant/Funding Information: This work was supported in parts by the grant DP110100389 from the Australian Research Council (A.L.M. and Y.O.C.), Griffith University Short Term Visiting Fellowship (Y.O.C.), NIH grant R01GM093294 (Y.O.C. and T.A.C.), the St. Petersburg State University research project 1.50.2218.2013 (Y.O.C.), and the Health Research Council (HRC) of New Zealand Emerging Researcher First Grant #06/410 and Massey University Research Fund (E.S.).
• Keywords: BINDING-PROTEIN; Cell Biology; Yih1p; Arp2/3; TRANSLATION; PROTEIN-KINASE GCN2; amyloid; INTERNALIZATION STEP; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; MAMMALIAN-CELLS; Sup35p; ARP2/3 COMPLEX; RECEPTOR-MEDIATED ENDOCYTOSIS; formin; Science & Technology; eEF1A; COMMON MECHANISM; Biochemistry & Molecular Biology; ELONGATION-FACTOR 1A; SACCHAROMYCES-CEREVISIAE; Lsb2p
• Research Categories: Biology, General; Chemistry, Biochemistry

Abstract

Classic functions of the actin cytoskeleton include control of cell size and shape and the internal organization of cells. These functions are manifest in cellular processes of fundamental importance throughout biology such as the generation of cell polarity, cell migration, cell adhesion, and cell division. However, studies in the unicellular model eukaryote Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Baker's yeast) are giving insights into other functions in which the actin cytoskeleton plays a critical role. These include endocytosis, control of protein translation, and determination of protein 3-dimensional shape (especially conversion of normal cellular proteins into prions). Here, we present a concise overview of these new "moonlighting" roles for the actin cytoskeleton and how some of these roles might lie at the heart of important molecular switches. This is an exciting time for researchers interested in the actin cytoskeleton. We show here how studies of actin are leading us into many new and exciting realms at the interface of genetics, biochemistry, and cell biology. While many of the pioneering studies have been conducted using yeast, the conservation of the actin cytoskeleton and its component proteins throughout eukaryotes suggests that these new roles for the actin cytoskeleton may not be restricted to yeast cells but rather may reflect new roles for the actin cytoskeleton of all eukaryotes.