Actin nucleation: spire - actin nucleator in a class of its own

Curr Biol. 2005 Apr 26;15(8):R305-8. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2005.04.004.

Abstract

The rate limiting step for actin filament polymerisation is nucleation, and two types of nucleator have been described: the Arp2/3 complex and the formins. A recent study has now identified in Spire a third class of actin nucleator. The four short WH2 repeats within Spire bind four consecutive actin monomers to form a novel single strand nucleus for 'barbed end' actin filament elongation.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Actins / metabolism*
  • Actins / physiology
  • Adenosine Triphosphate / metabolism
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / physiology
  • Drosophila Proteins / metabolism*
  • Drosophila Proteins / physiology
  • Microfilament Proteins / metabolism*
  • Microfilament Proteins / physiology
  • Models, Biological
  • Multiprotein Complexes / metabolism*
  • Protein Binding

Substances

  • Actins
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Microfilament Proteins
  • Multiprotein Complexes
  • capu protein, Drosophila
  • spir protein, Drosophila
  • Adenosine Triphosphate