title: Purification and properties of a Ca(2+)-independent barbed-end actin filament capping protein, CapZ, from human polymorphonuclear leukocytes.
abstract: In human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN), changes in the actin architecture are critical for the shape changes required for chemotaxis and phagocytosis. Barbed-end capping proteins are likely to regulate actin assembly in PMN. The previously identified barbed-end blocking proteins in PMN, gelsolin and CapG, require Ca(2+) to initiate capping of actin filaments. Because chemoattractants can stimulate PMN actin assembly by a calcium-independent signal transduction pathway, we sought to purify a calcium-independent barbed-end capping activity from PMN cytoplasmic extracts. A Ca(2+) -insensitive actin polymerization inhibitory activity was partially purified from human PMN [Southwick & Stossel (1981) J. Biol. Chem 256, 3030]. Using five column chromatography steps, we purified the protein to homogeneity as assessed by silver staining. Purification was associated with an increase in specific activity of greater than 40 X. Western blot analysis identified the protein as the nonmuscle isoform of the heterodimeric capping protein capZ. Human PMN capZ has an apparent disassociation constant of 3 nM for capping in the presence or absence of micromolar Ca(2+), as assessed by both pyrenylactin elongation and depolymerization assays. Similar to the activity reported for the actin polymerization inhibitor, activity of PMN capZ was inhibited by increasing the KC1 concentration from 0.1 M to 0.6 M. The capping function was also inhibited by phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP(2)) micelles, with half-maximal inhibition occurring at 5.5 micrograms mL(-1). PMN capZ did not nucleate actin assembly, sequester actin monomers, or sever actin filaments. Quantitative Western blot analysis revealed that capZ levels corresponded to 0.7-1.0% of the total human PMN cytoplasmic protein. Given its abundance and high affinity for barbed filament ends, capZ is likely to play an important role in the calcium-independent regulation of actin filament assembly associated with PMN chemotaxis.
authors.affiliation: University of Florida College of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Gainesville, 32610, USA.
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Maun
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Speicher
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: DiNubile
authors.forename: F S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Southwick
mesh_terms: D008841:Actin Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism*; D051339:Actin Depolymerizing Factors; D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051347:CapZ Actin Capping Protein; D002465:Cell Movement; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D051345:Destrin; D018260:Gelsolin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D009479:Neuropeptides; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000737:chemistry*; D018129:Phosphatidylinositol Phosphates / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding; D013049:Spectrin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D051339:Actin Depolymerizing Factors; D000199:Actins; C495842:CAPZA1 protein, human; D051347:CapZ Actin Capping Protein; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D051345:Destrin; D018260:Gelsolin; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D009124:Muscle Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D018129:Phosphatidylinositol Phosphates; C028841:erythrocyte membrane band 4.1 protein; C120557:erythrocyte membrane protein band 4.1-like 1; D013049:Spectrin