[4][5] The three paralogs, ezrin, radixin and moesin, are present in vertebrates, whereas other species have only one ERM gene.

More than 75% identity is observed in the N-terminal and the C-terminal of vertebrates (ezrin, radixin, moesin), Drosophila (dmoesin) and C. elegans (ERM-1) homologs.

ERM proteins crosslink actin filaments with plasma membranes.

They exist in two forms:[6][7] In culture cells, ERM proteins mainly exhibit the folded conformation (about 80-85%[10]).

The current model for ERM protein activation is a two-step mechanism:[11]