Your new experience awaits. Try the new design now and help us make it even better

BRIEF RESEARCH REPORT article

Front. Cell Dev. Biol., 21 January 2026

Sec. Cell Adhesion and Migration

Volume 13 - 2025 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fcell.2025.1579946

ERM proteins support perinuclear actin rim formation

Yuval Hadad&#x;Yuval HadadAndrea Fracchia&#x;Andrea FracchiaDagmawit BabeleDagmawit BabeleAmit Ben ShushanAmit Ben ShushanGabi Gerlitz
Gabi Gerlitz*
  • Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Ariel Center for Applied Cancer Research, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel

The interaction of actin filaments with the nuclear envelope is essential for diverse cellular processes, including cell migration, nuclear positioning, and transcriptional control. The main studied mechanism that links F-actin to the nucleus is the Linker of Nucleoskeleton and Cytoskeleton (LINC) complex. Recently, the formation of a perinuclear actin rim has been identified in various cell types in response to external force or migration signals. This rim depends on the activation of the actin nucleator Inverted formin 2 (INF2) by calcium influx. However, it is unclear how the rim is coupled to the nuclear envelope. Here, we show that the nuclear membrane protein Emerin, which has an actin-binding domain, is not required for the perinuclear actin rim formation. Interestingly, we found that the Ezrin-Radixin-Moesin (ERM) proteins, known to link actin filaments to the cell membrane, are also localized to the nuclear envelope in melanoma cells. Knockdown of ERM proteins led to a reduction in the rim levels, while overexpression of ERM proteins increased the perinuclear actin rim levels. Overexpression of Ezrin also improved the rim formation in HeLa cells upon addition of a calcium ionophore. Thus, the ERM proteins appear to participate in a mechanism that links actin filaments to the nuclear envelope.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT |

Introduction

Interaction of the actin network with the nuclear envelope is crucial for cell migration, the correct positioning of the nucleus in polarized cells, mechanotransduction, and transcriptional control (Davidson and Cadot, 2021). One of the most recently identified nuclear envelope-associated actin structures is the perinuclear actin rim, which is also termed Calcium-mediated Actin Reset (CaAR) (Shao et al., 2015b; Wales et al., 2016; Fracchia et al., 2020; Fracchia and Gerlitz, 2022; Jessop et al., 2024; Yang et al., 2024; Labat-de-Hoz et al., 2025). The perinuclear actin rim is composed of actin filaments that engulf the nuclear envelope from its cytosolic side in both two-dimensional (2D) (Shao et al., 2015b; Wales et al., 2016; Fracchia et al., 2020; Jessop et al., 2024; Labat-de-Hoz et al., 2025) and 3D culture conditions (Fracchia et al., 2020). It was identified in various cells, including breast cancer cells, fibroblasts, epithelial cells, and melanoma cells (Shao et al., 2015b; Wales et al., 2016; Fracchia et al., 2020; Jessop et al., 2024; Yang et al., 2024; Labat-de-Hoz et al., 2025). In some cells, the perinuclear actin rim is formed transiently for 1–5 min as a reaction to an external force applied to the cell (Shao et al., 2015b; Wales et al., 2016; Yang et al., 2024). The mechanical force leads to calcium ion influx that activates the actin nucleator Inverted formin 2 (INF2) (Shao et al., 2015b; Wales et al., 2016). INF2 is a member of the formin family that supports actin polymerization, which can localize to the endoplasmic reticulum (Labat-de-Hoz and Alonso, 2020; Labat-de-Hoz et al., 2025). In epithelial cells overexpressing IFN2 or in mouse melanoma cells that are released from contact inhibition, the perinuclear actin rim is much more stable and formed for hours (Fracchia et al., 2020; Labat-de-Hoz et al., 2025).

The perinuclear actin rim was suggested to affect the migration capabilities of cells. On the one hand, enhancing perinuclear actin rim formation by adding ATP, which mediates calcium influx, accelerated the migration rate of breast cancer cells (Wales et al., 2016). On the other hand, interference with the perinuclear actin rim by expressing an active form of the actin-severing protein Gelsolin at the nuclear envelope resulted in a reduction in the migration rate of melanoma cells (Fracchia et al., 2020). In breast cancer cells, inhibition of the deacetylase Sirtuin 2 (SIRT2) resulted in the formation of a perinuclear actin rim, which was associated with a reduction in cell migration rate (Jessop et al., 2024). In search for additional factors that affect the perinuclear actin rim formation, it was found that lamin B at the nuclear side of the nuclear envelope interfered with perinuclear actin rim formation at the cytosolic side of the nuclear envelope (Fracchia et al., 2020). Perinuclear actin rim formation is independent of either the formin mDia2 (Shao et al., 2015a) or the Linker of Nucleoskeleton and Cytoskeleton (LINC) complex (Shao et al., 2015b; Fracchia et al., 2020; Jessop et al., 2024). The LINC complex is a nuclear envelope complex composed of the inner nuclear membrane SUN domain proteins that bind the outer nuclear membrane KASH domain proteins. Inside the nucleus, the SUN domain proteins interact with the nuclear lamina and chromatin, while outside of the nucleus, the KASH domain proteins can bind various cytoskeleton elements, including actin filaments (Hieda, 2019; Fracchia and Gerlitz, 2022; King, 2023; McGillivary et al., 2023).

The accumulation of the perinuclear actin rim next to the nuclear envelope led us to hypothesize that an alternative mechanism to the LINC complex anchors the perinuclear actin rim to the nuclear envelope. Here, we looked for the involvement of factors that may facilitate the connection of the perinuclear actin rim to the nuclear envelope. We found that Emerin, a nuclear envelope protein that can bind F-actin to link it to the nuclear envelope in fibroblasts and keratinocytes (Le et al., 2016; Jin et al., 2023), is not necessary for the perinuclear actin rim formation. However, Ezrin-Radixin-Moesin (ERM) proteins that are known to be involved in connecting actin filaments to the plasma membrane (Ponuwei, 2016; Pelaseyed and Bretscher, 2018; Kawaguchi and Asano, 2022; Buenaventura et al., 2023) do localize to the nuclear envelope and support the formation of the perinuclear actin rim in both mouse melanoma B16-F10 cells and human HeLa cells.

Materials and methods

Cell culture and transfection

Mouse melanoma B16-F10 cell line purchased from ATCC was grown as described previously (Maizels et al., 2017). Plasmids expressing GFP-fused human Ezrin, Radixin, and Moesin were a kind gift from Peter Vilmos. DNA plasmids transfection was done by the Nanojuice transfection kit (71900-3, Merck, Kenilworth, NJ, United States) and the jetOPTIMUS transfection reagent (101000025, Polyplus, Illkirch-Graffenstaden, France) following manufacturers’ instructions. Cells were incubated 24 h before further analysis. For gene silencing, cells were transfected with siRNA (IDT, Coralville, IA, United States) by the INTERFERin reagent (101000028, Polyplus). Cells were incubated for 48 h before further analysis. SiRNA used were mouse Emerin (mm.Ri.Emd.13.1), mouse Radixin (mm.Ri.Rdx.13.1), mouse Moesin (mm.Ri.Msn.13.2), mouse Ezrin (mm.Ri.Ezr.13.1) and negative control (51-01-14-04). SiRNA transfection efficiency was >90%, as verified by transfection of Cy3 Transfection Control DsiRNA (51-01-03-06). For double transfection, cells were transfected with siRNA, incubated for 24 h, transfected with DNA plasmids, and incubated for another 24 h before further analysis. 1.5 mM Ionomycin (11932, Cayman Chemical Company, Ann Arbor, MI, United States) was added for various periods.

Immunostaining

Cells plated on Fibronectin (03-090-1-05, Biological Industries, Beit-Haemek, Israel) coated cover-glasses with or without a scratch were fixed by incubation in 2% paraformaldehyde for 10 min at room temperature or in methanol at 4 °C for 6 min. Antibodies used were rabbit anti-Emerin (sc-15378, Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Dallas, TX, United States) diluted 1:150, mouse anti-Ezrin (sc-58758, Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Dallas, TX, United States) diluted 1:200, goat anti-GFP (ab5450, Abcam, Cambridge, United Kingdom) diluted 1:400, goat anti-Lamin B (6216, Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Dallas, TX, United States) diluted 1:150, mouse anti-Moesin (CST3150, Cell Signaling Technologies, Danvers, MA, United States) diluted 1:300 and rabbit anti-Radixin (ab52495, Abcam, Cambridge, United Kingdom) diluted 1:100. Actin filaments were labeled by DyLight™ 554 Phalloidin (13054, Cell Signaling Technologies, Danvers, MA, United States) diluted 1:400. DNA was stained with Hoechst 33342 (B2261, Sigma-Aldrich, Rehovot, Israel). Images were collected using an Olympus IX81 fluorescence microscope with a coolSNAP HQ2 CCD camera (Photometrics, Tucson, AZ, United States) or a Prime BSI Express camera (Teledyne Photometrics, Tucson, AZ, United States). The ImageJ/Fiji software (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States) was used to measure the mean intensities of Phalloidin or ERM proteins: either Lamin B or Hoechst signals enabled us to allocate the nucleus edge where the average signals of Phalloidin or ERM proteins was measured in each nucleus. A total average was calculated and normalized to control cells. Images were assembled with Photoshop (Adobe, San Jose, CA, United States).

Protein lysate preparation and Western blot analysis

Cells were washed in PBS, scraped, precipitated by centrifugation at 500 g for 5 min at 4 °C, and sonicated in 2x SDS sample buffer (100 mM Tris pH 6.8, 10% glycerol, 2% SDS, 0.1 M DTT, and bromophenol blue) supplemented with protease inhibitor cocktail (539134, Merck, Kenilworth, NJ, United States). Samples were then heated at 95 °C for 10 min and stored at −20 °C until use. Protein extracts were separated in SDS-PAGE and analyzed by Western blot analysis using the following antibodies: rabbit anti-CTCF (3418, Cell Signaling Technology, Danvers, MA, United States) diluted 1:1,000, rabbit anti-Emerin (sc-15378, Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Dallas, TX, United States) diluted 1:5,000, mouse anti-Ezrin (sc-58758, Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Heidelberg, Germany) diluted 1:1,000, rabbit anti-histone H3 (05-928, EMD Millipore, Temecula, CA, United States), mouse anti-Moesin (CST3150, Cell Signaling Technologies, Danvers, MA, United States) diluted 1:1,000 and rabbit anti-Radixin (ab52495, Abcam, Cambridge, United Kingdom) diluted 1:1,000. Images were assembled with Photoshop (Adobe, San Jose, CA, United States).

Results

Perinuclear actin rim was found to be connected to the nucleus in a LINC complex-independent manner in mouse fibroblasts (Shao et al., 2015b) and melanoma cells (B16-F10 cells) (Fracchia et al., 2020). The nuclear envelope protein Emerin was shown to bind actin (Lattanzi et al., 2003; Holaska et al., 2004) and to support perinuclear actin accumulation in response to mechanical strain (Le et al., 2016; Jin et al., 2023). To test the possibility that Emerin is also essential for the perinuclear actin rim in B16-F10 cells, we first examined its localization in these cells upon release from contact inhibition in the wound-healing assay. As expected, we detected Emerin mainly at the nuclear periphery and, to some extent, in the cytoplasm, in a pattern resembling the nuclear envelope and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), respectively. This pattern of localization was reported before for Emerin (Salpingidou et al., 2007; Le et al., 2016) (Supplementary Figure 1A). The knockdown of Emerin did not affect the intensity of the perinuclear actin rims in a significant manner in B16-F10 cells (Supplementary Figures 1B-D), thus suggesting another factor links the perinuclear actin rim to the nucleus.

The ERM proteins are well-established factors that connect actin filaments to the plasma membrane (Ponuwei, 2016; Pelaseyed and Bretscher, 2018; Kawaguchi and Asano, 2022; Buenaventura et al., 2023). To investigate their possible involvement in perinuclear actin rim formation, we first examined their intracellular localization. Notably, we detected perinuclear accumulation of ERM proteins, which increased upon release from contact inhibition, in the wound healing assay (Figure 1). To determine if ERM proteins can influence perinuclear actin rim formation, we examined the actin rim intensity following the overexpression of ERM proteins. As shown in Figure 2, the over-expressed proteins were partially localized to the nuclear periphery. Notably, the intensity of the perinuclear actin rim increased significantly by 21% and 40% upon overexpression of GFP-fused Radixin and Moesin, respectively. This result suggests that ERM proteins can support the perinuclear actin rim.

Figure 1
Fluorescence microscopy images showing cellular components under control and migrating conditions. Panel A displays Radixin, Panel B shows Moesin, and Panel C illustrates Ezrin, each alongside Lamin B and Hoechst staining. Insets highlight specific areas. Graphs compare relative perinuclear intensity for Radixin, Moesin, and Ezrin between control and migrating cells, indicating increased intensity in migrating cells. Scale bar is 20 micrometers.

Figure 1. Perinuclear localization of ERM proteins. Confluent B16–F10 cells induced to migrate in the wound healing assay for 3 h, immunostained for Radixin (A), Moesin (B), and Ezrin (C), along with Lamin B. DNA is stained with Hoechst. The edge of the scratch is in the top region of each micrograph. The nuclei in the orange rectangles are magnified. Scale bar: 20 µm. For quantification, 20–45 cells from each condition were measured in each experiment for the ERM protein signal at the nuclear periphery. The mean intensity was calculated and normalized to control cells. The average mean intensity in three independent experiments ±s.e. is presented. Statistical significance was evaluated by the Student’s t-test, *P < 0.05.

Figure 2
(A) Three-panel microscopy images show cells under different conditions: Non-Transfected, Radixin-GFP, Moesin-GFP, and Ezrin-GFP. Each condition includes columns labeled GFP, Phalloidin, Lamin B, and Hoechst. Phalloidin images highlight actin filaments, Lamin B shows nuclear envelopes, and Hoechst stains nuclei. Each condition features orange boxes marking specific areas of interest. Scale bar in the Phalloidin column indicates 20 micrometers. (B) Bar graph titled

Figure 2. Overexpression of ERM proteins increases the intensity of the perinuclear actin rim. (A) Perinuclear actin rim upon overexpression of ERM proteins. Confluent B16-F10 cells over-expressing GFP-fused ERM proteins were induced to migrate in the wound healing assay for 3 h, stained for filamentous actin (Phalloidin), nuclear envelope (Lamin B), and DNA (Hoechst). The edge of the scratch is in the top region of each micrograph. The nuclei in the orange rectangles are magnified on the left side. Scale bar: 20 µm. (B) Quantification of the actin perinuclear rim in ERM overexpressing cells vs. control cells. For quantification, 20–30 cells from each condition were measured for the Phalloidin signal at the nuclear periphery in each experiment. The mean intensity was calculated and normalized to control cells. The average mean intensity in three independent experiments ±s.e. is presented. Statistical significance was evaluated by the Student’s t-test, *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01.

To confirm this observation, we examined the effect of ERM proteins knockdown (Supplementary Figures 2, 3) on the formation of the perinuclear actin rim. We realized that the release of contact inhibition in the wound healing assay leads to the formation of a perinuclear actin rim, which persists as long as contact inhibition has not been restored. Therefore, at this point, we analyzed sub-confluent B16-F10 cells. SiRNA treatment reduced both the total protein amounts (Supplementary Figure 2) and their subpopulation at the nuclear envelope (Supplementary Figure 3), though not exactly to the same extent. The variances may be due to methodological differences, such as limited antigen accessibility and higher background in immunofluorescence. As seen in Figure 3, the intensity of the perinuclear actin rim was reduced by 25% and 50% following the knockdown of Moesin and Ezrin, respectively. To verify the specificity of the effect, a rescue experiment was conducted. As seen in Supplementary Figure 4, knockdown of ERM proteins led to a reduction in the perinuclear actin rim intensities, which were restored to normal levels upon overexpression of the ERM proteins in the KD cells.

Figure 3
(A) Microscopy images showing cells treated with siRNA Control, Radixin, Moesin, and Ezrin subjected to staining with Phalloidin, Lamin B, and Hoechst. Insets highlight detailed structures. (B) Bar graph displaying relative perinuclear actin intensity for each siRNA treatment. Statistical significant differences indicated.

Figure 3. ERM proteins support the formation of a perinuclear actin rim. (A) Actin perinuclear rim after KD of ERM proteins. Sub-confluent B16–F10 cells transfected with either control, Radixin, Moesin, or Ezrin siRNA stained for filamentous actin (Phalloidin), nuclear envelope (Lamin B), and DNA (Hoechst). The nuclei in the orange rectangles are magnified on the left side. Scale bar: 20 µm. (B) Quantification of the actin perinuclear rim in siRNA ERM proteins vs. siRNA Control transfected B16–F10 cells. For quantification, in each experiment, 20–30 cells of each transfection were measured for the Phalloidin signal at the nuclear periphery. The mean intensity was calculated and normalized to control cells. The average mean intensity in three independent experiments ±s.e. is presented. Statistical significance was evaluated by the Student’s t-test, **P < 0.01.

To evaluate the generality of the importance of ERM proteins in perinuclear actin rim formation, we examined the effect of Ezrin overexpression on rim formation in HeLa cells following ionomycin treatment. Previously, elevation of intracellular calcium concentration by the calcium ionophores A23187 or ionomycin was shown to induce IFN2 activity that led to perinuclear actin rim formation within seconds to minutes in various cell types, including HeLa (Shao et al., 2015b; Wales et al., 2016). Indeed, treating HeLa cells with ionomycin led to the appearance of perinuclear actin rims within seconds (Figure 4). Notably, Ezrin overexpression led to a significant increase of 43%–86% in the rim intensities at the 30-, 60-, and 90-s time points after ionomycin addition. Taken together, these results support the hypothesis that ERM proteins are part of the molecular mechanism that generates the perinuclear actin rim.

Figure 4
Panel A shows microscopy images comparing F-actin stained with Phalloidin along GFP, and Hoechst in control cells and cells treated with ionomycin for different durations: 30 seconds, 60 seconds, 90 seconds, 3 minutes, and 7 minutes. Panel B presents a bar graph indicating relative perinuclear actin intensity over time in cells overexpressing GFP and GFP-Ezrin, with labels at specific time points.

Figure 4. Overexpression of Ezrin increases the induction of perinuclear actin rim in HeLa cells. (A) Perinuclear actin rim upon ionomycin treatment in HeLa cells overexpressing Ezrin. HeLa cells overexpressing either GFP or GFP-fused Ezrin were treated for the indicated periods with ionomycin and stained for filamentous actin (Phalloidin), GFP, and DNA (Hoechst). The nuclei in the orange rectangles are magnified on the left side. Scale bar: 20 µm. (B) Quantification of the actin perinuclear rim in Ezrin overexpressing cells vs. GFP expressing cells. For quantification, 20–30 cells from each condition were measured for the Phalloidin signal at the nuclear periphery in each experiment. The mean intensity was calculated and normalized to control GFP-expressing cells. The average mean intensity in three independent experiments ±s.e. is presented. Statistical significance was evaluated between Ezrin-GFP and GFP-expressing cells at each time point by the Student’s t-test, *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01.

Discussion

The perinuclear actin rim has been proposed to affect both cytoplasmic processes, such as cell migration (Wales et al., 2016; Fracchia et al., 2020; Jessop et al., 2024) and nuclear processes such as transcription (Wales et al., 2016). In search for the mechanism that links the perinuclear actin rim to the nuclear envelope, the LINC complex was evaluated. However, interference with the LINC complex function by overexpression of the KASH domain of either Nesprin 1 or Nesprin 2, which has a dominant negative effect, did not affect the formation of the actin perinuclear rim (Shao et al., 2015b; Fracchia et al., 2020). Here, we investigated the potential involvement of Emerin and ERM proteins. Emerin can localize to the outer nuclear envelope, where it was shown to bind actin filaments (Le et al., 2016), however knockdown of Emerin did not affect the perinuclear actin rim (Supplementary Figure 1).

ERM proteins can be found in the nucleus (Borkúti et al., 2024; Kovács et al., 2024), and Ezrin and Moesin were also identified in nuclear envelope fraction by a mass spectrometry analysis of purified nuclear envelopes from human leukocytes (Korfali et al., 2010). In our immunostainings, ERM proteins were partially localized to the nuclear periphery, exhibiting a similar pattern to that of lamin B immunostaining (Figures 1, 2). This localization suggests that ERM proteins can be associated not only with the plasma membrane but also with the nuclear membrane. Plasma membrane binding of ERM proteins is dependent on their FERM domain that interacts with phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [PI(4,5)P2] and on membranal proteins (Pelaseyed and Bretscher, 2018; Kawaguchi and Asano, 2022; Buenaventura et al., 2023). Notably, PI(4,5)P2 was found not only in the plasma membrane but also in the nuclear membrane (Smith and Wells, 1983; 1984b; 1984a; Mazzotti et al., 1995; Watt et al., 2002; Fiume et al., 2019). Thus, PI(4,5)P2 in the nuclear membrane could recruit ERM proteins to engulf the nucleus. An additional activator of Ezrin is S100 calcium-binding protein P (S100P), which can bind and activate Ezrin in a calcium-dependent manner (Koltzscher et al., 2003; Austermann et al., 2008). It may be relevant, since calcium influx activates the formation of the perinuclear actin rim (Shao et al., 2015b; Wales et al., 2016). Although S100P has been primarily studied in relation to the plasma membrane, it can be found in the cytoplasm at the nuclear periphery and in the nucleus (Sakaguchi et al., 2000; Maciejczyk et al., 2013).

Next, we evaluated the effect of altered levels of ERM proteins on the perinuclear actin rim. We found that knockdown of ERM proteins led to reduced levels of the perinuclear actin rim (Figure 3), which could be rescued upon overexpression of the knocked-down protein (Supplementary Figure 4). On the other hand, the overexpression of ERM proteins resulted in an increase in perinuclear actin rim levels in B16-F10 cells (Figure 2). These results suggest that all three ERM proteins contribute to the connection of actin filaments to the nuclear envelope. Due to their high similarity, they may have overlapping roles in this process. In support of the generality of this mechanism, we found that Ezrin overexpression in HeLa cells also promoted perinuclear actin rim formation in response to calcium ionophore treatment (Figure 4). The partial localization of both the endogenous and the overexpressed ERM proteins to the nuclear periphery that is also reduced by siRNA treatment suggests they may be directly involved in the perinuclear actin rim formation. Still, we cannot rule out completely the possibility that they affect the perinuclear actin rim indirectly from afar.

Combining our data with the results of others, we propose a model in which an increase in calcium ions at the nuclear periphery triggers the activation of INF2 and the polymerization of actin filaments, which are tethered by nuclear membrane-localized ERM proteins to form a rim around the nucleus. The increase in intracellular calcium ions can be due to a mechanical stimulus generated by a micromanipulation probe using atomic force microscopy (Shao et al., 2015b) or a shear stress (Wales et al., 2016). Notably, the generation of a scratch in the in vitro wound healing assay can generate an increase in intercellular calcium ions as well (Tran et al., 1999; Tsai et al., 2014). In some cells, the perinuclear actin rim is transient (Shao et al., 2015b; Wales et al., 2016), however, in mouse melanoma B16-F10 cells the rim is stable upon contact inhibition release as in the wound healing assay (Fracchia et al., 2020). In MDCK cells, a stable rim was also detected mainly upon mutating the WASP homology 2 (WH2) domain of INF2 (Labat-de-Hoz et al., 2025). It is still unclear which changes or factors enable long-lasting rims in some cells and not in others. Still, the perinuclear actin rim affects cellular migration and transcription (Wales et al., 2016; Fracchia et al., 2020; Jessop et al., 2024).

Here, we identify a possible new mechanism for linking actin filaments to the nuclear membrane by the ERM proteins. Our previous observation that lamin B at the inner side of the nuclear envelope can negatively affect the perinuclear actin rim formation (Fracchia et al., 2020) suggests the existence of a physical linkage between the ERM-linked actin filaments at the outer side of the nuclear envelope and the lamina at the inner side of the nuclear envelope that is still waiting to be discovered.

Data availability statement

The original contributions presented in the study are included in the article/Supplementary Material, further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.

Author contributions

YH: Conceptualization, Formal Analysis, Investigation, Writing – review and editing. AF: Conceptualization, Formal Analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Visualization, Writing – review and editing. DB: Conceptualization, Investigation, Visualization, Writing – review and editing. AB: Investigation, Writing - review and editing. GG: Conceptualization, Funding acquisition, Project administration, Supervision, Visualization, Writing – original draft, Writing – review and editing.

Funding

The author(s) declared that financial support was received for this work and/or its publication. The research was supported by the Israel Cancer Association (grant no. 20201181) and Ariel University.

Acknowledgements

We thank Peter Vilmos (Biological Research Center of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Szeged, Hungary) for providing plasmids.

Conflict of interest

The author(s) declared that this work was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Generative AI statement

The author(s) declared that generative AI was not used in the creation of this manuscript.

Any alternative text (alt text) provided alongside figures in this article has been generated by Frontiers with the support of artificial intelligence and reasonable efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, including review by the authors wherever possible. If you identify any issues, please contact us.

Publisher’s note

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

Supplementary material

The Supplementary Material for this article can be found online at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2025.1579946/full#supplementary-material

References

Austermann, J., Nazmi, A. R., Müller-Tidow, C., and Gerke, V. (2008). Characterization of the Ca2+ -regulated ezrin-S100P interaction and its role in tumor cell migration. J. Biol. Chem. 283, 29331–29340. doi:10.1074/jbc.M806145200

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Borkúti, P., Kristó, I., Szabó, A., Kovács, Z., and Vilmos, P. (2024). FERM domain–containing proteins are active components of the cell nucleus. Life Sci. Alliance 7, e202302489. doi:10.26508/lsa.202302489

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Buenaventura, R. G. M., Merlino, G., and Yu, Y. (2023). Ez-metastasizing: the crucial roles of ezrin in metastasis. Cells 12, 1620. doi:10.3390/cells12121620

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Davidson, P. M., and Cadot, B. (2021). Actin on and around the nucleus. Trends Cell. Biol. 31, 211–223. doi:10.1016/j.tcb.2020.11.009

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Fiume, R., Faenza, I., Sheth, B., Poli, A., Vidalle, M. C., Mazzetti, C., et al. (2019). Nuclear phosphoinositides: their regulation and roles in nuclear functions. IJMS 20, 2991. doi:10.3390/ijms20122991

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Fracchia, A., and Gerlitz, G. (2022). LINC complex independent perinuclear actin organization and cell migration. BIOCELL 46, 931–935. doi:10.32604/biocell.2022.018179

CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Fracchia, A., Asraf, T., Salmon-Divon, M., and Gerlitz, G. (2020). Increased lamin B1 levels promote cell migration by altering perinuclear actin organization. Cells 9, 2161. doi:10.3390/cells9102161

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Hieda, M. (2019). Signal transduction across the nuclear envelope: role of the LINC complex in bidirectional signaling. Cells 8, 124. doi:10.3390/cells8020124

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Holaska, J. M., Kowalski, A. K., and Wilson, K. L. (2004). Emerin caps the pointed end of actin filaments: evidence for an actin cortical network at the nuclear inner membrane. PLoS Biol. 2, e231. doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.0020231

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Jessop, E., Young, N., Garcia-Del-Valle, B., Crusher, J. T., Obara, B., and Karakesisoglou, I. (2024). SIRT2 inhibition by AGK2 promotes perinuclear cytoskeletal organisation and reduces invasiveness of MDA-MB-231 triple-negative breast cancer cells in confined in vitro models. Cells 13, 2023. doi:10.3390/cells13232023

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Jin, Q., Pandey, D., Thompson, C. B., Lewis, S., Sung, H. W., Nguyen, T. D., et al. (2023). Acute downregulation of emerin alters actomyosin cytoskeleton connectivity and function. Biophysical J. 122, 3690–3703. doi:10.1016/j.bpj.2023.05.027

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Kawaguchi, K., and Asano, S. (2022). Pathophysiological roles of actin-binding scaffold protein, ezrin. IJMS 23, 3246. doi:10.3390/ijms23063246

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

King, M. C. (2023). Dynamic regulation of LINC complex composition and function across tissues and contexts. FEBS Lett. 597, 2823–2832. doi:10.1002/1873-3468.14757

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Koltzscher, M., Neumann, C., König, S., and Gerke, V. (2003). Ca2+-dependent binding and activation of dormant ezrin by dimeric S100P. Mol. Biol. Cell. 14, 2372–2384. doi:10.1091/mbc.e02-09-0553

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Korfali, N., Wilkie, G. S., Swanson, S. K., Srsen, V., Batrakou, D. G., Fairley, E. A. L., et al. (2010). The leukocyte nuclear envelope proteome varies with cell activation and contains novel transmembrane proteins that affect genome architecture. Mol. Cell. Proteomics 9, 2571–2585. doi:10.1074/mcp.M110.002915

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Kovács, Z., Bajusz, C., Szabó, A., Borkúti, P., Vedelek, B., Benke, R., et al. (2024). A bipartite NLS motif mediates the nuclear import of drosophila moesin. Front. Cell. Dev. Biol. 12, 1206067. doi:10.3389/fcell.2024.1206067

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Labat-de-Hoz, L., and Alonso, M. A. (2020). The formin INF2 in disease: progress from 10 years of research. Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 77, 4581–4600. doi:10.1007/s00018-020-03550-7

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Labat-de-Hoz, L., Fernández-Martín, L., Morales, P., Correas, I., Jiménez, M. Á., and Alonso, M. A. (2025). Structural and functional dissection of the WH2/DAD motif of INF2 , a formin linked to human inherited degenerative disorders. FEBS J. Febs 70271, febs.70271. doi:10.1111/febs.70271

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Lattanzi, G., Cenni, V., Marmiroli, S., Capanni, C., Mattioli, E., Merlini, L., et al. (2003). Association of emerin with nuclear and cytoplasmic actin is regulated in differentiating myoblasts. Biochem. Biophysical Res. Commun. 303, 764–770. doi:10.1016/S0006-291X(03)00415-7

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Le, H. Q., Ghatak, S., Yeung, C.-Y. C., Tellkamp, F., Günschmann, C., Dieterich, C., et al. (2016). Mechanical regulation of transcription controls Polycomb-mediated gene silencing during lineage commitment. Nat. Cell. Biol. 18, 864–875. doi:10.1038/ncb3387

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Maciejczyk, A., Łacko, A., Ekiert, M., Jagoda, E., Wysocka, T., Matkowski, R., et al. (2013). Elevated nuclear S100P expression is associated with poor survival in early breast cancer patients. Histol. Histopathol. 28, 513–524. doi:10.14670/HH-28.513

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Maizels, Y., Elbaz, A., Hernandez-Vicens, R., Sandrusy, O., Rosenberg, A., and Gerlitz, G. (2017). Increased chromatin plasticity supports enhanced metastatic potential of mouse melanoma cells. Exp. Cell. Res. 357, 282–290. doi:10.1016/j.yexcr.2017.05.025

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Mazzotti, G., Zini, N., Rizzi, E., Rizzoli, R., Galanzi, A., Ognibene, A., et al. (1995). Immunocytochemical detection of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate localization sites within the nucleus. J. Histochem Cytochem 43, 181–191. doi:10.1177/43.2.7822774

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

McGillivary, R. M., Starr, D. A., and Luxton, G. W. G. (2023). Building and breaking mechanical bridges between the nucleus and cytoskeleton: regulation of LINC complex assembly and disassembly. Curr. Opin. Cell. Biol. 85, 102260. doi:10.1016/j.ceb.2023.102260

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Pelaseyed, T., and Bretscher, A. (2018). Regulation of actin-based apical structures on epithelial cells. J. Cell. Sci. 131, jcs221853. doi:10.1242/jcs.221853

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Ponuwei, G. A. (2016). A glimpse of the ERM proteins. J. Biomed. Sci. 23, 35. doi:10.1186/s12929-016-0246-3

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Sakaguchi, M., Miyazaki, M., Inoue, Y., Tsuji, T., Kouchi, H., Tanaka, T., et al. (2000). Relationship between contact inhibition and intranuclear S100C of normal human fibroblasts. J. Cell. Biol. 149, 1193–1206. doi:10.1083/jcb.149.6.1193

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Salpingidou, G., Smertenko, A., Hausmanowa-Petrucewicz, I., Hussey, P. J., and Hutchison, C. J. (2007). A novel role for the nuclear membrane protein emerin in association of the centrosome to the outer nuclear membrane. J. Cell. Biol. 178, 897–904. doi:10.1083/jcb.200702026

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Shao, X., Kawauchi, K., Shivashankar, G. V., and Bershadsky, A. D. (2015a). Novel localization of formin mDia2: importin -mediated delivery to and retention at the cytoplasmic side of the nuclear envelope. Biol. Open 4, 1569–1575. doi:10.1242/bio.013649

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Shao, X., Li, Q., Mogilner, A., Bershadsky, A. D., and Shivashankar, G. V. (2015b). Mechanical stimulation induces formin-dependent assembly of a perinuclear actin rim. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 112, E2595–E2601. doi:10.1073/pnas.1504837112

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Smith, C. D., and Wells, W. W. (1983). Phosphorylation of rat liver nuclear envelopes. II. Characterization of in vitro lipid phosphorylation. J. Biol. Chem. 258, 9368–9373. doi:10.1016/s0021-9258(17)44677-1

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Smith, C. D., and Wells, W. W. (1984a). Characterization of a phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate-specific phosphomonoesterase in rat liver nuclear envelopes. Archives Biochem. Biophysics 235, 529–537. doi:10.1016/0003-9861(84)90226-1

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Smith, C. D., and Wells, W. W. (1984b). Solubilization and reconstitution of a nuclear envelope-associated ATPase. Synergistic activation by RNA and polyphosphoinositides. J. Biol. Chem. 259, 11890–11894. doi:10.1016/s0021-9258(20)71295-0

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Tran, P. O., Hinman, L. E., Unger, G. M., and Sammak, P. J. (1999). A wound-induced [ca2+]i increase and its transcriptional activation of immediate early genes is important in the regulation of motility. Exp. Cell. Res. 246, 319–326. doi:10.1006/excr.1998.4239

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Tsai, F.-C., Seki, A., Yang, H. W., Hayer, A., Carrasco, S., Malmersjö, S., et al. (2014). A polarized Ca2+, diacylglycerol and STIM1 signalling system regulates directed cell migration. Nat. Cell. Biol. 16, 133–144. doi:10.1038/ncb2906

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Wales, P., Schuberth, C. E., Aufschnaiter, R., Fels, J., García-Aguilar, I., Janning, A., et al. (2016). Calcium-mediated actin reset (CaAR) mediates acute cell adaptations. Elife 5, e19850. doi:10.7554/eLife.19850

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Watt, S. A., Kular, G., Fleming, I. N., Downes, C. P., and Lucocq, J. M. (2002). Subcellular localization of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate using the pleckstrin homology domain of phospholipase C delta1. Biochem. J. 363, 657–666. doi:10.1042/0264-6021:3630657

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Yang, H., Sun, H., Shen, J., Wu, H., and Jiang, H. (2024). Dynamics of perinuclear actin ring regulating nuclear morphology. Appl. Math. Mech.-Engl 45, 1415–1428. doi:10.1007/s10483-024-3129-8

CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Keywords: calcium, cell migration, emerin, ezrin, LINC complex, moesin, nuclear envelope, radixin

Citation: Hadad Y, Fracchia A, Babele D, Ben Shushan A and Gerlitz G (2026) ERM proteins support perinuclear actin rim formation. Front. Cell Dev. Biol. 13:1579946. doi: 10.3389/fcell.2025.1579946

Received: 19 February 2025; Accepted: 29 December 2025;
Published: 21 January 2026.

Edited by:

Akiko Mammoto, Medical College of Wisconsin, United States

Reviewed by:

Elvira Infante, Institut Pasteur, France
Yin Loon Lee, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore
Miki Matsumura, Ehime Prefectural University of Health Sciences, Japan

Copyright © 2026 Hadad, Fracchia, Babele, Ben Shushan and Gerlitz. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

*Correspondence: Gabi Gerlitz, Z2FiaWdlQGFyaWVsLmFjLmls

These authors have contributed equally to this work

Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.