title: Regulation of actin dynamics by WASP family proteins.
abstract: Rapid reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton underlies morphological changes and motility of cells. WASP family proteins have received a great deal of attention as the signal-regulated molecular switches that initiate actin polymerization. The first member, WASP, was identified as the product of a gene of which dysfunction causes the human hereditary disease Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome. There are now five members in this protein family, namely WASP, N-WASP, WAVE/Scar1, 2, and 3. WASP and N-WASP have functional and physical associations with Cdc42, a Rho family small GTPase involved in filopodium formation. In contrast, there is evidence that links the WAVE/Scar proteins with another Rho family protein, Rac, which is a regulator of membrane ruffling. All WASP family members have a VCA domain at the C-terminus through which Arp2/3 complex is activated to nucleate actin polymerization. Analyses of model organisms have just begun to reveal unexpected functions of WASP family proteins in multicellular organisms.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cancer Genomics, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Shirokanedai 4-6-1, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8639.
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miki
authors.forename: Tadaomi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takenawa
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D008954:Models, Biological; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051316:Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein; D051300:Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein Family; D020744:rac GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D011506:Proteins; C495767:WAS protein, human; D051316:Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein; D051300:Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein Family; D020744:rac GTP-Binding Proteins