Roles of mDia formins in actin-dependent and –independent processes

Abstract

In this thesis, we studied the Diaphanous-Related Formins (DRFs) mDia1 and mDia2 for their actin-dependent and -independent roles in several cellular processes, including lamellipodia/ruffle formation and cell migration, gene transcription, and proteasome-dependent protein homeostasis. In addition we systematically characterized a widely employed general Formin inhibitor SMFIH2. This thesis highlights actin-dependent and -independent functions of the DRFs mDia1 and mDia2, and sheds new light on novel mode of action for DRFs.