Interaction of cortactin and N-WASp with Arp2/3 complex

Alissa M. Weaver, John E. Heuser, Andrei V. Karginov, Wei lih Lee, J. Thomas Parsons, John A. Cooper

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

234 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Dynamic actin assembly is required for diverse cellular processes and often involves activation of Arp2/3 complex. Cortactin and N-WASp activate Arp2/3 complex, alone or in concert. Both cortactin and N-WASp contain an acidic (A) domain that is required for Arp2/3 complex binding. Results: We investigated how cortactin and the constitutively active VCA domain of N-WASp interact with Arp2/3 complex. Structural studies showed that cortactin is a thin, elongated monomer. Chemical crosslinking studies demonstrated selective interaction of the Arp2/3 binding NTA domain of cortactin (cortactin NTA) with the Arp3 subunit and VCA with Arp3, Arp2, and ARPC1/ p40. Cortactin NTA and VCA crosslinking to the Arp3 subunit were mutually exclusive; however, cortactin NTA did not inhibit VCA crosslinking to Arp2 or ARPC1/ p40, nor did it inhibit activation of Atp2/3 complex by VCA. We conducted an experiment in which a saturating concentration of cortactin NTA modestly lowered the binding affinity of VCA for Atp2/3; the results of this experiment provided further evidence for ternary complex formation. Consistent with a common binding site on Arp3, a saturating concentration of VCA abolished binding of cortactin to Arp2/3 complex. Conclusions: Under certain circumstances, cortactin and N-WASp can bind simultaneously to Arp2/3 complex, accounting for their synergy in activation of actin assembly. The interaction of cortactin NTA with Arp2/3 complex does not inhibit Arp2/3 activation by N-WASp, despite competition for a common binding site located on the Arp3 subunit. These results suggest a model in which cortactin may bridge Arp2/3 complex to actin filaments via Arp3 and N-WASp activates Atp2/3 complex by binding Atp2 and/or ARPC1/p40.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1270-1278
Number of pages9
JournalCurrent Biology
Volume12
Issue number15
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 6 2002

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