title: How the Listeria monocytogenes ActA protein converts actin polymerization into a motile force.
abstract: The ActA protein is an essential determinant of pathogenicity that is responsible for the actin-based motility of Listeria monocytogenes in mammalian cells and cell-free extracts. ActA appears to control at least four functions that collectively lead to actin-based motility: (1) initiation of actin polymerization, (2) polarization of ActA function, (3) transformation of actin polymerization into a motile force and (4) acceleration of movement mediated by the host protein profilin.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, NJ 08544-1014, USA.
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Portnoy
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D003285:Contractile Proteins; D008089:Listeria monocytogenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D011108:Polymers; D051304:Profilins
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D003285:Contractile Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D011108:Polymers; D051304:Profilins; C072980:actA protein, Listeria monocytogenes