STRUCTURE-FUNCTION STUDIES ON CYTOSKELETAL PROTEINS IN DICTYOSTELIUM AMEBAS AS A PARADIGM

The actin cytoskeleton in motile non-muscle cells is being regulated b y a large number of actin-binding proteins, A deeper insight into the complex nature of the dynamic rearrangements of the microfilament syst em during cell movement requires an experimental system that allows th e combined application of biochemical, biophysical, cell biological an d molecular methods, Dictyostelium amoebae are well suited especially for a genetic approach because they are amenable to gene disruption, a ntisense and gene tagging techniques, The actin-binding proteins profi lin, hisactophilin and protovillin are being described in this context as typical examples that either bind to G-actin, or anchor the actin cytoskeleton to the plasma membrane, or are structurally similar to ve rtebrate proteins but distinct in their functions.