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EML Proteins in Microtubule Regulation and Human Disease

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journal contribution
posted on 2016-07-06, 12:21 authored by Andrew M. Fry, Laura O'Regan, Jessica Montgomery, Rozita Adib, Richard Bayliss
The EMLs are a conserved family of microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs). The founding member was discovered in sea urchins as a 77-kDa polypeptide that co-purified with microtubules. This protein, termed EMAP for echinoderm MAP, was the major non-tubulin component present in purified microtubule preparations made from unfertilized sea urchin eggs [J. Cell Sci. (1993) 104, 445–450; J. Cell Sci. (1987) 87(Pt 1), 71–84]. Orthologues of EMAP were subsequently identified in other echinoderms, such as starfish and sand dollar, and then in more distant eukaryotes, including flies, worms and vertebrates, where the name of ELP or EML (both for EMAP-like protein) has been adopted [BMC Dev. Biol. (2008) 8, 110; Dev. Genes Evol. (2000) 210, 2–10]. The common property of these proteins is their ability to decorate microtubules. However, whether they are associated with particular microtubule populations or exercise specific functions in different microtubule-dependent processes remains unknown. Furthermore, although there is limited evidence that they regulate microtubule dynamics, the biochemical mechanisms of their molecular activity have yet to be explored. Nevertheless, interest in these proteins has grown substantially because of the identification of EML mutations in neuronal disorders and oncogenic fusions in human cancers. Here, we summarize our current knowledge of the expression, localization and structure of what is proving to be an interesting and important class of MAPs. We also speculate about their function in microtubule regulation and highlight how the studies of EMLs in human diseases may open up novel avenues for patient therapy.

History

Citation

Biochemical Society Transactions, 2016, 44 (5), pp.1281-1288

Author affiliation

/Organisation/COLLEGE OF MEDICINE, BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND PSYCHOLOGY/MBSP Non-Medical Departments/Molecular & Cell Biology

Version

  • AM (Accepted Manuscript)

Published in

Biochemical Society Transactions

Publisher

Portland Press

issn

0300-5127

eissn

1470-8752

Acceptance date

2016-06-15

Copyright date

2016

Available date

2017-10-19

Publisher version

http://www.biochemsoctrans.org/content/44/5/1281

Notes

The file associated with this record is under a 12 month embargo from publication in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. The full text may be available through the publisher links provided above.

Language

en

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