Abstract
Cdc42 is a key regulator of cell polarity and actin dynamics. One of its effectors, WASP, initiates the assembly of new actin filaments. In this issue of Cell, show that a previously unknown regulator named Toca-1 is required for Cdc42 to activate WASP. This discovery changes our picture of how small GTPases and multiple other signals converge to stimulate actin polymerization and cell motility.
MeSH terms
-
Actins / biosynthesis*
-
Animals
-
Cell Movement / physiology*
-
Cell Polarity / physiology
-
Humans
-
Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-Diphosphate / metabolism*
-
Protein Binding / physiology
-
Protein Structure, Tertiary / physiology
-
Proteins / metabolism*
-
Signal Transduction / physiology
-
Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein
-
cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein / metabolism*
Substances
-
Actins
-
Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-Diphosphate
-
Proteins
-
WAS protein, human
-
Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein
-
cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein