InterPro domain: IPR030009

Villin belongs to the villin/gelsolin family, whose members are actin-modulating proteins that sever F-actin, cap the barbed ends of actin filaments preventing monomer exchange, and promote the nucleation step of actin polymerisation [ 1 ]. Villin is involved in actin remodelling necessary for many cellular processes requiring the actin cytoskeleton plasticity [ 2 , 3 ].

This entry represents villin-2 from plants, including AtVLN2 from Arabidopsis [ 4 ]. Arabidopsis contains at least five villin-like genes (AtVLNs) encoding five different VLN isoforms. AtVLN2 and AtVLN3 act redundantly in sclerenchyma development through bundling of actin filaments [ 5 , 6 ].

1. Villin severing activity enhances actin-based motility in vivo. Mol. Biol. Cell 18, 827-38
2. The epithelial cell cytoskeleton and intracellular trafficking. III. How is villin involved in the actin cytoskeleton dynamics in intestinal cells? Am. J. Physiol. Gastrointest. Liver Physiol. 283, G496-502
3. Regulation of cell structure and function by actin-binding proteins: villin's perspective. FEBS Lett. 582, 2128-39
4. Villin-like actin-binding proteins are expressed ubiquitously in Arabidopsis. Plant Physiol. 122, 35-48
5. Arabidopsis VILLIN2 and VILLIN3 act redundantly in sclerenchyma development via bundling of actin filaments. Plant J. 71, 962-75
6. Arabidopsis VILLIN2 and VILLIN3 are required for the generation of thick actin filament bundles and for directional organ growth. Plant Physiol. 158, 1426-38