The ERM protein family consists of three closely-related proteins, ezrin, radixin and moesin.

Structure

ERM molecules contain the following three domains:

• N-terminal globular domain
• extended alpha-helical domain
• charged C-terminal domain

Ezrin, radixin and merlin also contain a polyproline region between the central helical and C-terminal domains.

Function

ERM proteins crosslink actin filaments with plasma membranes. They co-localize with CD44 at actin filament-plasma membrane interaction sites, associating with CD44 via their N-terminal domains and with actin filaments via their C-terminal domains.

References