Tetraspanins in lower eukaryotes

Abstract

Tetraspanins are widely distributed among metazoan phyla. Recent progress in various genome projects have enabled us to carry out a comparative analysis of tetraspanins and their relative in lower eukaryotes including unicellular organisms (e.g. Amoeba and Encephalitozoon). The functions of tetraspanins in lower eukaryotes are largely unknown, but recent comprehensive genetic analyses have provided us with some clues for the roles played by these proteins in these organisms. Here we overview tetraspanin proteins in lower eukaryotes and plants and describe what is known about their specific functions in the context of organ development and differentiation. We also review recent data describing physiological regulators of tetraspanins and their involvement in processes related to parasitism.