Armadillo-repeat protein functions: questions for little creatures

Armadillo (ARK-repeat proteins form a large family with diverse and fundamental functions in many eukaryotes. ARM-repeat proteins have largely been characterised in multicellular organisms and much is known about how a subset of these proteins function. The structure of ARM-repeats allows proteins containing them to be functionally very versatile. Are the ARM-repeat proteins in 'little creatures' as multifunctional as their better-studied relatives? The time is now right to start analysing ARM-repeat proteins in these new systems to better understand their cell biology. Here, we review recent advances in understanding the many cellular roles of both well-known and novel ARM-repeat proteins.