WIP regulates N-WASP-mediated actin polymerization and filopodium formation

Nat Cell Biol. 2001 May;3(5):484-91. doi: 10.1038/35074551.

Abstract

Induction of filopodia is dependent on activation of the small GTPase Cdc42 and on neural Wiskott-Aldrich-syndrome protein (N-WASP). Here we show that WASP-interacting protein (WIP) interacts directly with N-WASP and actin. WIP retards N-WASP/Cdc42-activated actin polymerization mediated by the Arp2/3 complex, and stabilizes actin filaments. Microinjection of WIP into NIH 3T3 fibroblasts induces filopodia; this is inhibited by microinjection of anti-N-WASP antibody. Microinjection of anti-WIP antibody inhibits induction of filopodia by bradykinin, by an active Cdc42 mutant (Cdc42(V12)) and by N-WASP. Our results indicate that WIP and N-WASP may act as a functional unit in filopodium formation, which is consistent with their role in actin-tail formation in cells infected with vaccinia virus or Shigella.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • 3T3 Cells
  • Actin-Related Protein 2
  • Actin-Related Protein 3
  • Actins / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Blotting, Western
  • Bradykinin / pharmacology
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Line
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Enzyme Activation
  • Glutathione Transferase / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Mutation
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism*
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Pseudopodia / metabolism*
  • Rabbits
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Shigella / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Time Factors
  • Two-Hybrid System Techniques
  • Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein, Neuronal
  • cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein / metabolism

Substances

  • Actin-Related Protein 2
  • Actin-Related Protein 3
  • Actins
  • Actr2 protein, mouse
  • Actr3 protein, mouse
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Wasl protein, mouse
  • Waspip protein, mouse
  • Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein, Neuronal
  • Glutathione Transferase
  • cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein
  • Bradykinin