This entry represents the C-terminal domain of the ERM family of proteins which consists of three closely-related proteins, ezrin, radixin and moesin [1]. These proteins link actin filaments of cell surface structures to the plasma membrane, using a C-terminal F-actin binding segment and an N-terminal FERM domain (Pfam:PF00373), a common membrane binding module [1,2]. Ezrin was first identified as a constituent of microvilli [3], radixin as a barbed, end-capping actin-modulating protein from isolated junctional fractions [4] and moesin as a heparin binding protein [5]. A tumour suppressor molecule responsible for neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) is highly similar to ERM proteins and has been designated merlin (moesin-ezrin-radixin-like protein). This entry represents the C-terminal actin-binding tail domain [6,7]. This entry also includes Ermin proteins, oligodendrocyte-specific proteins associated with the cytoskeleton whose C-terminal domain is similar to that in ERM family [8].

1: Ezrin/radixin/moesin (ERM) proteins bind to a positively charged amino acid cluster in the juxta-membrane cytoplasmic domain of CD44, CD43, and ICAM-2. Yonemura S, Hirao M, Doi Y, Takahashi N, Kondo T, Tsukita S; J Cell Biol 1998;140:885-895. PMID:9472040

2: Structure of the ERM protein moesin reveals the FERM domain fold masked by an extended actin binding tail domain. Pearson MA, Reczek D, Bretscher A, Karplus PA; Cell. 2000;101:259-270. PMID:10847681

3: Purification of an 80,000-dalton protein that is a component of the isolated microvillus cytoskeleton, and its localization in nonmuscle cells. Bretscher A; J Cell Biol. 1983;97:425-432. PMID:6885906

4: A heparin-binding protein involved in inhibition of smooth-muscle cell proliferation. Lankes W, Griesmacher A, Grunwald J, Schwartz-Albiez R, Keller R; Biochem J. 1988;251:831-842. PMID:3046603

5: Moesin-ezrin-radixin-like protein (merlin) mediates protein interacting with the carboxyl terminus-1 (PICT-1)-induced growth inhibition of glioblastoma cells in the nucleus. Chen H, Mei L, Zhou L, Zhang X, Guo C, Li J, Wang H, Zhu Y, Zheng Y, Huang L; Int J Biochem Cell Biol. 2011;43:545-555. PMID:21167305

6: Self-masking in an intact ERM-merlin protein: an active role for the central alpha-helical domain. Li Q, Nance MR, Kulikauskas R, Nyberg K, Fehon R, Karplus PA, Bretscher A, Tesmer JJ; J Mol Biol. 2007;365:1446-1459. PMID:17134719

7: X-linked primary immunodeficiency associated with hemizygous mutations in the moesin (MSN) gene. Lagresle-Peyrou C, Luce S, Ouchani F, Soheili TS, Sadek H, Chouteau M, Durand A, Pic I, Majewski J, Brouzes C, Lambert N, Bohineust A, Verhoeyen E, Cosset FL, Magerus-Chatinet A, Rieux-Laucat F, Gandemer V, Monnier D, Heijmans C, van Gijn M, Dalm VA, Mahlaoui N, Stephan JL, Picard C, Durandy A, Kracker S, Hivroz C, Jabado N, de Saint Basile G, Fischer A, Cavazzana M, Andre-Schmutz I; J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2016;138:1681-1689. PMID:27405666

8: Ermin is a p116(RIP) -interacting protein promoting oligodendroglial differentiation and myelin maintenance. Wang S, Wang T, Liu T, Xie RG, Zhao XH, Wang L, Yang Q, Jia LT, Han J; Glia. 2020;68:2264-2276. PMID:32530539