Filamin Functions in Cell Mechanics and Signaling
Summary
Filamins are a family of large actin-binding proteins that crosslink and stabilise orthogonal actin networks within the cell cortex and contribute to the transduction of mechanical forces into biochemical signals. By forming flexible rod-like structures comprised of immunoglobulin-like repeats and hinge regions, filamins organise the actin cytoskeleton to resist deforming forces, regulate membrane tension and support cell shape changes. Beyond their structural role, filamins serve as scaffolds for diverse signalling molecules, including Rho family GTPases, kinases and transcriptional regulators, thus coordinating cytoskeletal dynamics with pathways governing cell migration, adhesion, differentiation and mechanosensitive gene expression. Dysregulation of filamin function is implicated in developmental anomalies, cardiovascular malformations, neurodevelopmental disorders and cancer progression, highlighting their global significance and therapeutic potential.
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Filamin Functions in Cell Mechanics and Signaling publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in filamin functions in cell mechanics and signaling across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Actin cytoskeleton: A network of filamentous actin that provides structural support and enables force generation within cells.
Filamin: A dimeric actin-binding protein composed of immunoglobulin-like repeats and hinge regions that crosslinks actin filaments and binds signalling partners.
Rho-GTPase: A family of small signalling GTPases that regulate actin dynamics and cell morphology.
Cofilin: An actin-severing protein that depolymerises actin filaments to promote cytoskeletal turnover.
Calpain: A calcium-dependent protease that cleaves cytoskeletal proteins, including filamins, to modulate cell mechanics and signalling.
Young’s modulus: A measure of material stiffness defined as the ratio of stress to strain under elastic deformation.
References
- FLNA regulates neuronal maturation by modulating RAC1-Cofilin activity in the developing cortex. Neurobiology of Disease (2024).
- Targeting Cleavage of C-Terminal Fragment of Cytoskeletal Filamin A in Cancers. Cells (2024).
- Defective Biomechanics and Pharmacological Rescue of Human Cardiomyocytes with Filamin C Truncations. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2024).
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