Actin filaments are highly dynamic structures involved in many cellular processes including cell-to-cell/substrate association and cell motility. The actin cytoskeleton is tightly regulated by actin-binding proteins, which include the members of the ADF (actin-depolymerizing factor)/cofilin family. The members of the LIM kinase family of proteins (LIMK1 and 2) regulate actin dynamics by controlling the binding affinity of ADF/cofilin towards actin. LIMK2 has two major splice variants, LMK2a and LIMK2b. We have generated mice lacking LIMK2a expression (LIMK2a KO), to study its specific role in the regulation of the actin cytoskeleton. The LIMK2a KO mice showed a significant prolonged bleeding complication upon injuries compared to wild type mice. This prolonged bleeding prompted us to check the expression of the LIMK2 protein in platelets as it was previously suggested that it is not expressed in platelets. We showed that human and mouse express LIMK2 in platelets and using our LIMK2a KO mice we have identified a potential key role for LIMK2 in platelet functions including platelet spreading, aggregation and thrombus formation.

中文翻译：

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LIM激酶2（LIMK2）可能在血小板功能中起重要作用。

肌动蛋白丝是涉及许多细胞过程的高度动态结构，包括细胞间/底物结合和细胞运动性。肌动蛋白的细胞骨架受到肌动蛋白结合蛋白的严格调节，其中包括ADF（肌动蛋白解聚因子）/ cofilin家族成员。LIM激酶家族蛋白（LIMK1和2）的成员通过控制ADF / cofilin对肌动蛋白的结合亲和力来调节肌动蛋白的动力学。LIMK2有两个主要的剪接变体LMK2a和LIMK2b。我们已经生成了缺乏LIMK2a表达（LIMK2a KO）的小鼠，以研究其在肌动蛋白细胞骨架调控中的特定作用。与野生型小鼠相比，LIMK2a KO小鼠受伤后出血时间明显延长。这种长时间的出血促使我们检查LIMK2蛋白在血小板中的表达，因为以前曾暗示它在血小板中不表达。我们显示人类和小鼠在血小板中表达LIMK2，并且使用我们的LIMK2a KO小鼠，我们已经确定了LIMK2在血小板功能（包括血小板扩散，聚集和血栓形成）中的潜在关键作用。