Role of Cytoskeletal Protein, Actin in Various Diseases

Cytoskeletal proteins, which are unique to eukaryotic cells, form a three-dimensional niche filling the cytoplasm. It is quite essential for a myriad of cellular processes in higher eukaryotes such as cell movement, stability, and cell to cell interaction. There are primarily three major types of cytoskeletal protein, viz microfilaments/actin filaments, microtubules, and intermediate filaments. The polymerization dynamics of these three proteins are in turn regulated by several other accessory proteins depending upon the functional requirement of the cells. These polymerization dynamics of the protein are also responsible for cellular signaling processes that control the cytokine release during various immune responses against foreign particles. It has been widely known that any aberration that occurs during the polymerization dynamics of these three proteins may be responsible for several diseases. These diseases range from various types of cancer, polycystic ovary syndrome, neuropathological disorders, liver cirrhosis, pulmonary fibrosis, and blistering skin diseases. Many microorganisms that infect specialized cell types have been shown to be highly dependent on host cytoskeletal elements.

In this chapter, we try to understand the regulation of the microfilament/actin filament that controls different cellular processes, thereby preventing various disease polymorphisms. We also try to evaluate the interaction dynamics of several cytoskeletal binding drugs in controlling such aberrated cellular process which are in turn responsible for various disease polymorphisms. Through our computational studies we give an insight on the comparative analysis of polymerization of tubulin and actin filaments.