Ezrin–Radixin–Moesin (ERM) proteins play an essential role in the cytoplasm by cross‐linking
actin filaments with plasma membrane proteins. Research has identified the nuclear
localization of ERMs, as well as the involvement of a single Drosophila
ERM protein, Moesin, in nuclear mRNA exports. However, the question of how important
the nuclear activity of ERM proteins are for the life of an organism has so far not
been explored. Here, we present the first attempt to reveal the in vivo
relevance of nuclear localization of Moesin in Drosophila.
With the help of a nuclear export signal, we decreased the amount of Moesin in the
nuclei of the animals. Furthermore, we observed various developmental defects, demonstrating
the importance of ERM function in the nucleus for the first time. Transcriptome analysis
of the mutant flies revealed that the lack of nuclear Moesin function leads to expression
changes in nearly 700 genes, among them heat‐shock genes. This result together with
additional findings revealed that in Drosophila the expression
of protein chaperones requires the nuclear functions of Moesin.DatabaseGEO
accession number: GSE155778.
