dictyNews
Electronic Edition
Volume 43, number 21
September 8, 2017
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Abstracts
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Differential functions of WAVE regulatory complex subunits in the
regulation of actin-driven processes
Christof Litschko 1, Joern Linkner 1,2, Stefan Brühmann 1, Theresia
Stradal 3, Tobias Reinl 4,5, Lothar Jänsch 4, Klemens Rottner 3,6,
and Jan Faix 1
1 Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Hannover Medical School,
Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany;
2 present address: PerkinElmer LAS GmbH, Ferdinand-Porsche Ring 17,
63110 Rodgau, Germany;
3 Department of Cell Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research,
Inhoffenstrasse 7, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany;
4 Cellular Proteomics, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research,
Inhoffenstrasse 7, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany;
5 present address: GlycoThera GmbH, Feodor-Lynen-Str. 35, 30625
Hannover, Germany;
6 Division of Molecular Cell Biology, Zoological Institute, Technische
Universität Braunschweig, Spielmannstrasse 7, 38106 Braunschweig,
Germany.
European Journal of Cell Biology, in press
The WAVE regulatory complex (WRC) links upstream Rho-family GTPase
signaling to the activation of the ARP2/3 complex in different organisms.
WRC-induced and ARP2/3 complex-mediated actin nucleation beneath
the plasma membrane is critical for actin assembly in the leading edge to
drive efficient cell migration. The WRC is a stable heteropentamer
composed of SCAR/WAVE, Abi, Nap, Pir and the small polypeptide
Brk1/Hspc300. Functional interference with individual subunits of the
complex frequently results in diminished amounts of the remaining
polypeptides of the WRC complex, implying the complex to act as
molecular entity. However, Abi was also found to associate with mammalian
N-WASP, formins, Eps8/SOS1 or VASP, indicating additional functions of
individual WRC subunits in eukaryotic cells. To address this issue
systematically, we inactivated all WRC subunits, either alone or in
combination with VASP in Dictyostelium cells and quantified the protein
content of the remaining subunits in respective WRC knockouts. The
individual mutants displayed highly differential phenotypes concerning
various parameters, including cell morphology, motility, cytokinesis or
multicellular development, corroborating the view of additional roles for
individual subunits, beyond their established function in WRC-mediated
Arp2/3 complex activation. Finally, our data uncover the interaction of the
actin polymerase VASP with WRC-embedded Abi to mediate VASP
accumulation in cell protrusions, driving efficient cell migration.
submitted by: Jan Faix [[log in to unmask]]
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[End dictyNews, volume 43, number 21]
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