Biological role and structural mechanism of twinfilin-capping protein interaction

EMBO J. 2004 Aug 4;23(15):3010-9. doi: 10.1038/sj.emboj.7600310. Epub 2004 Jul 29.

Abstract

Twinfilin and capping protein (CP) are highly conserved actin-binding proteins that regulate cytoskeletal dynamics in organisms from yeast to mammals. Twinfilin binds actin monomer, while CP binds the barbed end of the actin filament. Remarkably, twinfilin and CP also bind directly to each other, but the mechanism and role of this interaction in actin dynamics are not defined. Here, we found that the binding of twinfilin to CP does not affect the binding of either protein to actin. Furthermore, site-directed mutagenesis studies revealed that the CP-binding site resides in the conserved C-terminal tail region of twinfilin. The solution structure of the twinfilin-CP complex supports these conclusions. In vivo, twinfilin's binding to both CP and actin monomer was found to be necessary for twinfilin's role in actin assembly dynamics, based on genetic studies with mutants that have defined biochemical functions. Our results support a novel model for how sequential interactions between actin monomers, twinfilin, CP, and actin filaments promote cytoskeletal dynamics.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Actin Depolymerizing Factors
  • Actins / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Binding Sites
  • Destrin
  • Mice
  • Microfilament Proteins / chemistry*
  • Microfilament Proteins / genetics
  • Microfilament Proteins / metabolism*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Structure, Quaternary
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / chemistry*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Actin Depolymerizing Factors
  • Actins
  • Destrin
  • Microfilament Proteins
  • Ptk9 protein, mouse
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • TWF1 protein, S cerevisiae