The actin depolymerizing factor n-cofilin is essential for neural tube morphogenesis and neural crest cell migration

• Published in: Developmental biology Vol. 278; no. 1; pp. 231 - 241
• Main Authors: Gurniak, Christine B., Perlas, Emerald, Witke, Walter
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.02.2005
• Subjects: Actin cytoskeleton; Actin depolymerizing factor; Actin Depolymerizing Factors; Animals; Cell Movement - genetics; Cell Movement - physiology; Cofilin; Cofilin 2; Destrin; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Gene Targeting; Genes, Lethal; Immunohistochemistry; In Situ Hybridization; Mice; Mice, Knockout; Microfilament Proteins - deficiency; Microfilament Proteins - genetics; Microfilament Proteins - physiology; Morphogenesis - genetics; Morphogenesis - physiology; Nervous System - cytology; Nervous System - embryology; Nervous System - metabolism; Neural Crest - cytology; Neural Crest - embryology; Neural Crest - metabolism; Neural crest cell migration; Neural Tube Defects - embryology; Neural Tube Defects - etiology; Neural Tube Defects - genetics; Neural crest cell migration; Cofilin; Actin depolymerizing factor; Actin cytoskeleton

Cofilin/ADF proteins are a ubiquitously expressed family of F-actin depolymerizing factors found in eukaryotic cells including plants. In vitro, cofilin/ADF activity has been shown to be essential for actin driven motility, by accelerating actin filament turnover. Three actin depolymerizing factors...