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First published online November 12, 2009
doi: 10.1242/10.1242/jcs.045914

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Tumor-suppression functions of merlin are independent of its role as an organizer of the actin cytoskeleton in Schwann cells

Dominique Lallemand^*,,, Aurelie Lampin Saint-Amaux and Marco Giovannini

Inserm, U674 and Université Paris 7–Denis Diderot, Institut Universitaire d'Hématologie, Paris, 75010, France

^* Author for correspondence (dominique.lallemand{at}curie.fr)

Accepted 15 September 2009

Merlin is the product of the Nf2 tumor-suppressor gene, and inactivation of Nf2 leads to the development of neural tumors such as schwannomas and meningiomas in humans and mice. Merlin is a member of the ERM (ezrin, radixin and moesin) family of proteins that function as organizers of the actin cytoskeleton. Merlin structure is thought to be similar to that of the ERM proteins, and is held in a closed clamp conformation via intramolecular interactions of its N-terminal FERM (four-point-one, ERM) domain with an -helical C-terminal domain. Like ERMs, merlin can remodel actin-rich cortical structures, yet merlin uniquely inhibits the proliferation of many different cell types. Here, we report that the F2 subdomain of the FERM domain and a domain close to the C-terminus that is defined by residues 532-579 are essential for merlin-mediated inhibition of primary Schwann cell proliferation. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the F1 subdomain of the merlin FERM domain is required for actin colocalization, proper regulation of merlin C-terminal phosphorylation and for remodeling the cytoskeleton, yet is not required for the inhibition of Schwann cell proliferation. Thus, tumor suppression by merlin is independent of its role as an organizer of the actin cytoskeleton in Schwann cells.

Key words: Neurofibromatosis type 2, Merlin, Ezrin, Schwann cells, FERM domain, Proliferation, Cytoskeleton, Protein domains

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