The yeast actin cytoskeleton and its function in endocytosis

Actin is an essential protein in yeast and functions in the fundamental processes of cell polarity, cytokinesis and endocytosis. Actin performs this role in concert with a myriad of actin-binding proteins. Different proteins drive polymerisation of actin into filaments, organise filaments into higher order structures such as bundles, trigger severing of filaments, or depolymerisation of filaments to the monomer state. Recent advances in imaging, the development of fluorescent fusion protein technology, coupled with genetic and molecular biology approaches, have driven progress in our understanding of many components of the actin cytoskeleton and how their function is critical to the mechanism of endocytosis in yeast.