title: Extracellular potassium deprivation reversibly dephosphorylates cofilin.
abstract: Cofilin is essential for actin filament remodeling in various cell types. We previously reported that ouabain leads to dephosphorylation of cofilin, resulting in cytoskeletal reorganization and cell volume change. We report here that the extracellular [K(+)](e) deprivation causes dephosphorylation of cofilin with disruption of cytoskeletal structures and cell shrinkage. These changes can be reversed by time-dependent restoration of [K(+)](e). Thus, these results suggest that the acute shift of [K(+)](e) triggers a reversible change of cofilin phosphorylation which may be an essential event in the regulation of cytoskeletal architecture and cell volume.
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, Center for Cell Signaling Research and Division of Molecular Life Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jaehoon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Heejin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Moonhee
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Min-Jeong
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Eung Chil
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Kyunglim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D051339:Actin Depolymerizing Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D048429:Cell Size / Q000187:drug effects; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D051379:Mice; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D051339:Actin Depolymerizing Factors; D011188:Potassium