G proteins, phosphoinositides, and actin-cytoskeleton in the control of cancer growth

Almost three decades have passed since actin-cytoskeleton (acto-myosin comp lex) was first discovered in non-muscle cells. A combination of cell biolog y, biochemistry, and molecular biology has revealed the structure and funct ion of many actin-binding proteins and their physiological role in the regu lation of cell motility, shape, growth, and malignant transformation. As mo lecular oncologists, we would like to review how the function of actin-cyto skeleton is regulated through Ras/Rho family GTPases- or phosphoinositides- mediated signaling pathways, and how malignant transformation is controlled by actin/phosphoinositides-binding proteins or drugs that block Rho/Rac/CD C42 GTPases-mediated signaling pathways. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.