Moesin (or membrane-organizing extension spike protein) belongs to ERM family that modulates epithelial integrity by regulating cell-signalling events that affect actin organization and polarity. The effects of Moesin on epithelial cells appear to result from inhibition of Rho signaling. ERM proteins serve a structural role in linkage of the cytoskeletion to the plasma membrane and the rescue of cells lacking Moesin by modulation of Rho signaling indicates that inhibition of Rho activity may be a more critical function of Moesin. The negative feedback loop produced by Rho′s activation of ERM may be an important mechanism that prevents the excessive migratory and invasive properties characteristic of metastatic cancer cells.
