title: Integration of signals to the Arp2/3 complex.
abstract: The Arp2/3 complex is necessary for nucleating the formation of branched networks of actin filaments at the cell cortex, and an increasing number of proteins able to activate the Arp2/3 complex have been described. The Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASP) family and cortactin comprise the large majority of the known activators. WASPs bind to Arp2/3 via an acidic (A) domain, and a WH2 domain appears to bring an actin monomer to Arp2/3, promoting the nucleation of the new filament. Cortactin also binds the Arp2/3 complex via an A domain; however, it also binds to actin filaments, which helps activate the Arp2/3 complex and stabilise the newly created branches between the filaments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63130, USA.
authors.forename: Alissa M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Weaver
authors.forename: Michael E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Wei-Lih
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Cooper
mesh_terms: D008841:Actin Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051377:Actin-Related Protein 2; D051378:Actin-Related Protein 3; D000818:Animals; D051356:Cortactin; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005057:Eukaryotic Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D051316:Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein
chemical_list: C495926:ACTR2 protein, human; C495928:ACTR3 protein, human; D051377:Actin-Related Protein 2; D051378:Actin-Related Protein 3; C495868:CTTN protein, human; D051356:Cortactin; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D011506:Proteins; C495767:WAS protein, human; D051316:Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein