Merlin (moesin, ezrin, and radixin like protein), the NF2 gene product, has striking similarity to ezrin, radixin, and moesin (ERM). Regulation of merlin (aka schwannomin) and ERM proteins involves intramolecular and intermolecular head-to-tail associations between family members. Merlin and ERM proteins act as linkers between the plasma membrane and the cytoskeleton, affecting cell morphology, polarity, and signal transduction . Merlin is phosphorylated by the Rac/Cdc42 effector p21-activated kinase (PAK) at Ser518, negatively regulating Rac.
