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Origins and Evolution of the Actin Cytoskeleton

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Eukaryotic Membranes and Cytoskeleton

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 607))

Abstract

The presence of a complex cytoskeletal system is a hallmark feature of eukaryotic cells, distinguishing them from their prokaryotic (bacterial or archaeal) “cousins”. No extant prokaryote studied so far possesses obvious homologues of major cytoskeletal proteins shared universally among eukaryotes, such as e.g., actin or tubulin. However, several proteins exhibiting limited sequence similarity with certain cytoskeletal components, as well as the ability to form filaments, have been found.1–3 These include, among others, relatives of actin and actin-associated proteins that will be discussed in detail below, the FtsZ family of bacterial and archaeal tubulin-related proteins participating in cell division4 and an intermediate filament-like protein (crescentin) from Caulobacter. 5

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Biochemistry and Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Joseph-Stelzmann-Str. 52, 50931, Köln, Germany

    Francisco Rivero

  2. Department of Plant Physiology Faculty of Sciences, Charles University, Prague, Czechia

    Fatima Cvrčková

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  1. Francisco Rivero
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  2. Fatima Cvrčková
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Correspondence to Francisco Rivero .

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Rivero, F., Cvrčková, F. (2007). Origins and Evolution of the Actin Cytoskeleton. In: Eukaryotic Membranes and Cytoskeleton. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 607. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-74021-8_8

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