Merlin: a moesin-ezrin-radizin-like protein. Interacts with cell-surface proteins, proteins involved in cytoskeletal dynamics and proteins involved in regulating ion transport. Expressed at high levels during embryonic development; in adults, significant expression is found in Schwann cells, meningeal cells, lens and nerve. Mutations are associated with neurofibromatosis type II. Two predominant isoforms and eight minor isoforms are produced by alternatively spliced transcripts.
Protein type: Cytoskeletal; Tumor suppressor; Motility/polarity/chemotaxis
Chromosomal Location of Human Ortholog: 22q12.2
Cellular Component: filopodium membrane; cortical actin cytoskeleton; early endosome; cytoskeleton; extrinsic to membrane; adherens junction; membrane; perinuclear region of cytoplasm; apical part of cell; lamellipodium; cytoplasm; nucleolus; plasma membrane; nucleus; cleavage furrow
Molecular Function: protein binding; actin binding
Biological Process: intercellular junction assembly and maintenance; negative regulation of MAPKKK cascade; hippocampus development; regulation of protein stability; negative regulation of tyrosine phosphorylation of Stat5 protein; negative regulation of cell-matrix adhesion; odontogenesis of dentine-containing teeth; negative regulation of cell proliferation; Schwann cell proliferation; mesoderm formation; negative regulation of DNA replication; positive regulation of stress fiber formation; ectoderm development; negative regulation of tyrosine phosphorylation of Stat3 protein; negative regulation of protein kinase activity; negative regulation of cell-cell adhesion; actin cytoskeleton organization and biogenesis; positive regulation of cell differentiation; negative regulation of cell migration; negative regulation of JAK-STAT cascade
Disease: Meningioma, Familial, Susceptibility To; Neurofibromatosis, Type Ii; Schwannomatosis 1
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