Profilin and actin-depolymerizing factor: modulators of actin organization in plants

A striking feature of the eukaryotic actin cytoskeleton is its ability to undergo dramatic reorganization in response to internal and environmental stimuli. In plant cells, several cellular processes depend on, or are coincident with, reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton, including division, differentiation, light-induced plastid migration, wound repair and response to pathogen attack. Understanding how the actin cytoskeleton responds to these internal and extracellular factors requires a detailed understanding of the molecular mechanisms that coordinate actin polymerization and depolymerization. There is increasing evidence that the small actin-binding proteins profilin and actin-depolymerizing factor regulate actin dynamics in plant cells. These proteins may serve to integrate signaling cues and translate this information to remodel the cytoplasmic architecture.