Translational Nephrology Dynamics at the slit diaphragm—is nephrin actin’?*

Two manuscripts published by Verma et al. in the Journal of Clinical Investigation and by Jones et al. in Nature show that nephrin interacts with the actin polymerization complex via the adaptor protein Nck at the slit diaphragm. The glomerular filter has remained one of the most intriguing mysteries in the field of nephrology. How is it possible that the kidney filters millions of litres of fluid from the plasma in a lifetime and never clogs? How can plasma proteins be so efficiently retained within the serum by this nano-structure? And why does a glomerulus become proteinuric in diseased states? The glomerular filter is composed of three major components: the fenestrated endothelial cells, th