Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

ERM Proteins

  • Reference work entry
  • First Online:
Encyclopedia of Cancer

  • 263 Accesses

Synonyms

Cytovilin; Villin 2

Definition

The ERM family consists of three closely related proteins, ezrin, radixin, and moesin. ERM proteins are cell membrane and cytoskeleton linker proteins.

Characteristics

History, Structure, and Sequence

Ezrin, the prototype ERM protein is a 585-amino acid polypeptide, first identified as a constituent of microvilli and shown to be present in actin-containing surface structure on a wide variety of cells. ERM proteins share homology in sequence structure and function. They are composed of three domains: an N-terminal globular domain; an extended α-helical domain; and a charged C-terminal domain. The N-terminal domain of ERM proteins is highly conserved and is also found in merlin, band 4.1 proteins, and members of the band 4.1 superfamily. This domain is called FERM (four.one protein, ezrin, radixin, moesin) domain. The crystal structure of moesin revealed that the FERM domain is composed of three structural modules that, together, form a compact...

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 2,499.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Bretscher A, Chambers D, Nguyen R et al (2000) ERM-Merlin and EBP50 protein families in plasma membrane organization and function. Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol 16:113–143

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Vaheri A, Carpen O, Heiska L et al (1997) The ezrin protein family: membrane-cytoskeleton interactions and disease associations. Curr Opin Cell Biol 9:659–666

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Tsukita S, Yonemura S (1999) Cortical actin organization: lessons from ERM (ezrin/radixin/moesin) proteins. J Biol Chem 274:34507–34510

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Bretscher A, Edwards K, Fehon RG (2002) ERM proteins and merlin: integrators at the cell cortex. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 3:586–599

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. McClatchey AI (2003) Merlin and ERM proteins: unappreciated roles in cancer development? Nat Rev Cancer 3:877–883

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Center for Cancer Research, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Ling Ren

  2. Comparative Oncology Program, National Cancer Institute, Center for Cancer Research, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Chand Khanna

Authors
  1. Ling Ren
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Chand Khanna
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ling Ren .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University Professor of Genetics, German Cancer Research Center - DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany

    Manfred Schwab

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2011 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this entry

Cite this entry

Ren, L., Khanna, C. (2011). ERM Proteins. In: Schwab, M. (eds) Encyclopedia of Cancer. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-16483-5_1990

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation