Tether and trap: regulation of membrane-raft dynamics by actin-binding proteins

• Published in: Nature Reviews: Immunology Vol. 7; no. 11; pp. 889 - 896
• Main Authors: Viola, Antonella, Gupta, Neetu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Nature Publishing Group 01-11-2007
• Subjects: Actin; Actins - metabolism; Animals; Binding proteins; Cell membranes; Cholesterol; Cytoskeleton; Humans; Immunology; Lipids; Lymphocytes; Membrane Microdomains - immunology; Membrane Microdomains - metabolism; Membranes; Microfilament Proteins - metabolism; Microfilament Proteins - physiology; Models, Biological; Physiological aspects; Polarity (Biology); Proteins; Signal transduction; Signal Transduction - immunology; Italy
• ISSN: 1474-1733; 1474-1741; 1365-2567
• DOI: 10.1038/nri2193

The existence of plasma-membrane-raft microdomains has been widely debated during the past few years. However, it is clear that during lymphocyte stimulation a lipid-based reorganization occurs at the plasma membrane, with markers of the membrane rafts being selectively recruited to key active regions of the cell. Recent reports have demonstrated that membrane-raft dynamics are controlled by proteins that are linked to the actin cytoskeleton and have suggested a new model for the plasma membrane based on protein-lipid interactions. This new and dynamic view of the plasma membrane may improve our understanding of the complex process leading to cell polarization during lymphocyte migration and activation.