Browsing by Subject "nuclear actin"
Now showing items 1-2 of 2
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(2018)Actin has been linked to processes spanning the whole gene expression cascade, from regulating specific transcription factors, such as myocardin-related transcription factor (Mrtf), to chromatin remodelling and RNA polymerase (Pol) function. However, whether actin controls transcription of only specific genes or has a global role in gene expression has remained elusive. Our genome-wide analysis reveals, for the first time, that actin interacts with essentially all transcribed genes in Drosophila ovaries. Actin co-occupies majority of gene promoters together with Pol II, and on highly expressed genes these two proteins also associate with gene bodies. Mechanistically, actin is required for Pol II recruitment to gene bodies and manipulation of nuclear transport factors for actin leads to decreased expression of egg shell genes. Collectively, these results uncover a global role for actin in transcription, and demonstrate the in vivo importance of balanced nucleo-cytoplasmic shuttling of actin in transcriptional control of a developmental process.
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(2020)Actin has essential functions both in the cytoplasm and in the nucleus, where it has been linked to key nuclear processes, from transcription to DNA damage response. The multifunctional nature of actin suggests that the cell must contain mechanisms to accurately control the cellular actin balance. Indeed, recent results have demonstrated that nuclear actin levels fluctuate to regulate the transcriptional activity of the cell and that controlled nuclear actin polymerization is required for transcription activation, cell cycle progression, and DNA repair. Intriguingly, aberrant nuclear actin regulation has been observed, for example, in cancer, signifying the importance of this process for cellular homeostasis. This review discussed the latest research on how nuclear actin is regulated, and how this influences actin-dependent nuclear processes.
