The structural basis of actin interaction with multiple WH2/beta-thymosin motif-containing proteins

Structure. 2006 Mar;14(3):469-76. doi: 10.1016/j.str.2005.12.011.

Abstract

Participation of actin in cellular processes relies on the dynamics of filament assembly. Filament elongation is fed by monomeric actin in complex with either profilin or a Wiscott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASP) homology domain 2 (WH2)/beta-thymosin (betaT) domain. WH2/betaT motif repetition (typified by ciboulot) or combination with nonrelated domains (as found in N-WASP) results in proteins that yield their actin to filament elongation. Here, we report the crystal structures of actin bound hybrid proteins, constructed between gelsolin and WH2/betaT domains from ciboulot or N-WASP. We observe the C-terminal half of ciboulot domain 2 bound to actin. In solution, we show that cibolout domains 2 and 3 bind to both G- and F-actin, and that whole ciboulot forms a complex with two actin monomers. In contrast, the analogous portion of N-WASP WH2 domain 2 is detached from actin, indicating that the C-terminal halves of the betaT and WH2 motifs are not functionally analogous.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actins / chemistry
  • Actins / metabolism*
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Drosophila
  • Drosophila Proteins / chemistry*
  • Drosophila Proteins / metabolism
  • Gelsolin / chemistry*
  • Microfilament Proteins / chemistry*
  • Microfilament Proteins / metabolism
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / chemistry*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Thymosin / chemistry*
  • Thymosin / metabolism
  • Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein / chemistry*
  • Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein / metabolism

Substances

  • Actins
  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Gelsolin
  • Microfilament Proteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein
  • cib protein, Drosophila
  • Thymosin

Associated data

  • PDB/2FF3
  • PDB/2FF6