Study on the roles of ezrin on epithelial physiology and cancer metastasis using ezrin knockdown mice.

埃兹蛋白是一种肌动蛋白结合蛋白，它可以交联细胞膜蛋白和细胞骨架。对于上皮细胞以及神经元组织的顶端结构域的形态发生至关重要。最近，埃兹蛋白已被报道参与膜融合，内吞/胞吐，并在激素和细胞信号的控制下将特定的转运蛋白靶向细胞表面。在本研究项目中，我们使用“ezrin敲低小鼠”研究了ezrin在体内全身的作用，特别是关注其在上皮结构、转运和肿瘤发展中的作用。总之，我们发现Ezrin参与胃肠道上皮结构，肾脏磷酸盐重吸收和肿瘤发展。

Ezrin is an actin-binding protein which cross-links between plasma membrane proteins and cytoskeletons. It is essential for morphogenesis of the apical domain of epithelial cells as well as neuronal tissues. Recently, ezrin has been reported to be involved in membrane fusion, endocytosis/exocytosis, and targeting of specific transport proteins to the cell surface under the control of hormones and cellular signals. In this research project, we studied the roles of ezrin in the whole body in vivo using "ezrin-knock-down mice", and especially focused on its roles on epithelial architecture, transport, and tumor development. In conclusion, we found that ezrin is involved in epithelial architecture of GI tract, phosphate re-absorption in kidneys, and tumor development.