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Review
. 2003 Sep;134(3):309-13.
doi: 10.1093/jb/mvg146.

Regulation of actin dynamics by WASP family proteins

Hiroaki Miki  1 , Tadaomi Takenawa
Affiliations
Free article
Review

Regulation of actin dynamics by WASP family proteins

Hiroaki Miki et al. J Biochem. 2003 Sep.
Free article

Abstract

Rapid reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton underlies morphological changes and motility of cells. WASP family proteins have received a great deal of attention as the signal-regulated molecular switches that initiate actin polymerization. The first member, WASP, was identified as the product of a gene of which dysfunction causes the human hereditary disease Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome. There are now five members in this protein family, namely WASP, N-WASP, WAVE/Scar1, 2, and 3. WASP and N-WASP have functional and physical associations with Cdc42, a Rho family small GTPase involved in filopodium formation. In contrast, there is evidence that links the WAVE/Scar proteins with another Rho family protein, Rac, which is a regulator of membrane ruffling. All WASP family members have a VCA domain at the C-terminus through which Arp2/3 complex is activated to nucleate actin polymerization. Analyses of model organisms have just begun to reveal unexpected functions of WASP family proteins in multicellular organisms.

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