The FERM domain is a conserved and widespread protein module that appeared in the
common ancestor of amoebae, fungi, and animals, and is therefore now found in a wide
variety of species. The primary function of the FERM domain is localizing to the plasma
membrane through binding lipids and proteins of the membrane; thus, for a long time,
FERM domain-containing proteins (FDCPs) were considered exclusively cytoskeletal.
Although their role in the cytoplasm has been extensively studied, the recent discovery
of the presence and importance of cytoskeletal proteins in the nucleus suggests that
FDCPs might also play an important role in nuclear function. In this review, we collected
data on their nuclear localization, transport, and possible functions, which are still
scattered throughout the literature, with special regard to the role of the FERM domain
in these processes. With this, we would like to draw attention to the exciting, new
dimension of the role of FDCPs, their nuclear activity, which could be an interesting
novel direction for future research.
