title: Two tandem verprolin homology domains are necessary for a strong activation of Arp2/3 complex-induced actin polymerization and induction of microspike formation by N-WASP.
abstract: All WASP family proteins share a common C terminus that consists of the verprolin homology domain (V), cofilin homology domain (C), and acidic region (A), through which they activate Arp2/3 complex-induced actin polymerization. In this study, we characterized the Arp2/3 complex-mediated actin polymerization activity of VCA fragments of all of the WASP family proteins: WASP, N-WASP, WAVE1, WAVE2, and WAVE3. All of the VCA fragments stimulated the nucleating activity of Arp2/3 complex. Among them, N-WASP VCA, which possesses two tandem V motifs, had a more potent activity than other VCA proteins. The chimeric protein experiments revealed that the V motif was more important to the activation potency than the CA region; two V motifs were required for full activity of N-WASP. COS7 cells overexpressing N-WASP form microspikes in response to epidermal growth factor. However, when a chimeric protein in which the VCA region of N-WASP is replaced with WAVE1 VCA was overexpressed, microspike formation was suppressed. Interestingly, when the N-WASP VCA region was replaced with WAVE1 VCA, having two V motifs, this chimeric protein could induce microspike formation. These results indicate that strong activation of Arp2/3 complex by N-WASP is mainly caused by its two tandem V motifs, which are essential for actin microspike formation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miki
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Suetsugu
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Kirschner
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takenawa
mesh_terms: D051377:Actin-Related Protein 2; D051378:Actin-Related Protein 3; D000199:Actins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020816:Amino Acid Motifs; D000818:Animals; D019556:COS Cells; D002417:Cattle; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011108:Polymers; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D011817:Rabbits; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D051300:Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein Family; D051317:Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein, Neuronal
chemical_list: D051377:Actin-Related Protein 2; D051378:Actin-Related Protein 3; D000199:Actins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D011108:Polymers; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; C090350:VRP1 protein, S cerevisiae; D051300:Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein Family; D051317:Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein, Neuronal