Abstract
Cortical cytoskeletal proteins are significant in controlling various cellular mechanisms such as migration, cell adhesion, intercellular attachment, cellular signaling, exo- and endocytosis and plasma membrane integrity, stability and flexibility. Our earlier studies involving in vitro and ex vivo approaches led us to identify certain undiscovered characteristics of α-fodrin, a prominent cortical protein. The conventional functions attributed to this protein mainly support the plasma membrane. In the present study, we utilized a global protein expression analysis approach to detect underexplored functions of this protein. We report that downregulation of α-fodrin in glioblastoma cells, U-251 MG, results in upregulation of genes affecting the regulation of the cytoskeleton, cell cycle and apoptosis. Interestingly, certain key microtubule kinesins such as KIF23, KIF2B and KIF3C are downregulated upon α-fodrin depletion, as validated by real-time PCR studies.
Highlights
IntroductionThe cortical cytoskeleton is an important feature contributing towards the integrity and strength of cells
Organization and the Activity ofThe cortical cytoskeleton is an important feature contributing towards the integrity and strength of cells
Global expression analysis of the proteome of α-fodrin downregulated U-251 MG cells revealed several interesting factors that are modulated to bring about the apparent effects of this molecule
Summary
The cortical cytoskeleton is an important feature contributing towards the integrity and strength of cells. Metazoan cells have evolved various functional proteins to serve as cortical proteins supporting the inner aspect of the plasma membrane. One such family of proteins is the spectrin family. The major representative members of this family are spectrin and fodrin. Both these proteins have been implicated in supporting the plasma membrane. While spectrin is mostly found in the erythrocytes, fodrin is more ubiquitous in presentation, as it is expressed in most tissues apart from the erythrocytes, and most abundantly in brain tissue [1]
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