DAAM1: Proteins and Enzymes

Functions of the cell cortex, including motility, adhesion, and cytokinesis, are mediated by the reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton and recent evidence suggests a role for the Formin homology (FH) proteins in these processes. The protein encoded by this gene contains FH domains and belongs to a novel FH protein subfamily implicated in cell polarity. Wnt/Fz signaling activates the small GTPase Rho, a key regulator of cytoskeleton architecture, to control cell polarity and movement during development. Activation requires Dvl-Rho complex formation, an assembly mediated by this gene product, which is thought to function as a scaffolding protein. Evidence of alternative splicing has been observed for this gene but the full-length nature of these variants has not been determined.