title: Characterizing F-actin Disassembly Induced by the Semaphorin-Signaling Component MICAL.
abstract: The MICALs are a family of phylogenetically conserved cytoplasmic proteins that modulate numerous cellular behaviors and play critical roles in semaphorin-plexin signaling. Our recent results have revealed that the MICALs are an unusual family of actin regulatory proteins that use actin filaments (F-actin) as a direct substrate-controlling F-actin dynamics via stereospecific oxidation of conserved methionine (Met44 and Met47) residues within actin. In particular, the MICALs have a highly conserved flavoprotein monooxygenase (redox) enzymatic domain in their N-terminus that directly oxidizes and destabilizes F-actin. Here, we describe methods to characterize MICAL-mediated F-actin disassembly using in vitro assays with purified proteins.
authors: Departments of Neuroscience and Pharmacology and Neuroscience Graduate Program, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA.
authors: Jimok
authors: J
authors: Yoon
authors: Departments of Neuroscience and Pharmacology and Neuroscience Graduate Program, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA.|Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
authors: Ruei-Jiun
authors: RJ
authors: Hung
authors: Departments of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA. jonathan.terman@utsouthwestern.edu.
authors: Jonathan R
authors: JR
authors: Terman
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / Q000378:metabolism*; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D006801:Humans; D060588:LIM Domain Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D006899:Mixed Function Oxygenases; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D039961:Semaphorins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D000096985:Calponins
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D060588:LIM Domain Proteins; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D006899:Mixed Function Oxygenases; D039961:Semaphorins; C455272:MICAL1 protein, human; D000096985:Calponins
keywords: Actin sedimentation; F-actin disassembly; MICALs; Oxidoreductase; Plexin; Pyrene-actin