Usual and unusual biochemical properties of ADF/cofilin-like protein Adf73p in ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2009 Dec 4;390(1):54-9. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2009.09.063. Epub 2009 Sep 19.

Abstract

Actin-depolymerizing factor (ADF)/cofilin is a well-conserved actin-modulating protein, which induces reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton by severing and depolymerizing F-actin. ADF/cofilin also binds to G-actin and inhibits nucleotide exchange, and hence, is supposed to regulate the nucleotide-bound state of the cellular G-actin pool cooperating with profilin, another well-conserved G-actin-binding protein that promotes nucleotide exchange. In this report, we investigated the biochemical properties of the ADF/cofilin-like protein Adf73p from ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila. Adf73p also binds to both G- and F-actin and severs and depolymerizes F-actin. Unlike canonical ADF/cofilin, however, Adf73p accelerates nucleotide exchange on actin and allows repolymerization of disassembled actin. These results suggest that the actin cytoskeleton of T. thermophila is regulated by Adf73p in a different way from those of mammals, plants, and yeasts.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actin Depolymerizing Factors / chemistry
  • Actin Depolymerizing Factors / genetics
  • Actin Depolymerizing Factors / metabolism*
  • Actins / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Protozoan Proteins / chemistry
  • Protozoan Proteins / genetics
  • Protozoan Proteins / metabolism*
  • Tetrahymena thermophila / genetics
  • Tetrahymena thermophila / metabolism*

Substances

  • Actin Depolymerizing Factors
  • Actins
  • Protozoan Proteins