WIP: a multifunctional protein involved in actin cytoskeleton regulation

Eur J Cell Biol. 2006 Apr;85(3-4):295-304. doi: 10.1016/j.ejcb.2005.08.004. Epub 2005 Sep 19.

Abstract

Knowledge of the dynamics of actin-based structures is a major key to understanding how cells move and respond to their environment. The ability to reorganize actin filaments in a spatial and temporal manner to integrate extracellular signals is at the core of cell adhesion and cell migration. Several proteins have been described as regulators of actin polymerization: this review will focus on the role of WASP-interacting protein (WIP), an actin-binding protein that participates in actin polymerization regulation and signal transduction. WIP is widely expressed and interacts with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASP) (a hematopoietic-specific protein) and its more widely expressed homologue neural WASP (N-WASP), to regulate WASP/N-WASP function in Arp2/3-mediated actin polymerization. WIP also interacts with profilin, globular and filamentous actin (G- and F-actin, respectively) and stabilizes actin filaments. In vivo WIP participates in filopodia and lamellipodia formation, in T and B lymphocyte activation, in mast cell degranulation and signaling through the Fcepsilon receptor (FcepsilonR), in microbial motility and in Syk protein stability.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Actin Cytoskeleton / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Adhesion
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • Fibroblasts / cytology
  • Fibroblasts / enzymology
  • Fibroblasts / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Lymphocytes / cytology
  • Lymphocytes / enzymology
  • Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Mast Cells / cytology
  • Mast Cells / enzymology
  • Mast Cells / metabolism
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • WIPF1 protein, human
  • Waspip protein, mouse