title: A superfamily of actin-binding proteins at the actin-membrane nexus of higher plants.
abstract: Complex animals use a wide variety of adaptor proteins to produce specialized sites of interaction between actin and membranes. Plants do not have these protein families, yet actin-membrane interactions within plant cells are critical for the positioning of subcellular compartments, for coordinating intercellular communication, and for membrane deformation. Novel factors are therefore likely to provide interfaces at actin-membrane contacts in plants, but their identity has remained obscure. Here we identify the plant-specific Networked (NET) superfamily of actin-binding proteins, members of which localize to the actin cytoskeleton and specify different membrane compartments. The founding member of the NET superfamily, NET1A, is anchored at the plasma membrane and predominates at cell junctions, the plasmodesmata. NET1A binds directly to actin filaments via a novel actin-binding domain that defines a superfamily of thirteen Arabidopsis proteins divided into four distinct phylogenetic clades. Members of other clades identify interactions at the tonoplast, nuclear membrane, and pollen tube plasma membrane, emphasizing the role of this superfamily in mediating actin-membrane interactions.
authors: School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, University of Durham, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, UK.
authors: Michael J
authors: MJ
authors: Deeks
authors: Joanna R
authors: JR
authors: Calcutt
authors: Elizabeth K S
authors: EK
authors: Ingle
authors: Timothy J
authors: TJ
authors: Hawkins
authors: Sean
authors: S
authors: Chapman
authors: A Christine
authors: AC
authors: Richardson
authors: David A
authors: DA
authors: Mentlak
authors: Martin R
authors: MR
authors: Dixon
authors: Frances
authors: F
authors: Cartwright
authors: Andrei P
authors: AP
authors: Smertenko
authors: Karl
authors: K
authors: Oparka
authors: Patrick J
authors: PJ
authors: Hussey
mesh_terms: D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000378:metabolism*; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D020539:Sequence Analysis, Protein; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; C578372:NET1A protein, Arabidopsis; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins