The filamin-B–refilin axis – spatiotemporal regulators of the actin-cytoskeleton in development and disease

Filamin B (FLNB) is a dimeric actin-binding protein that orchestrates the reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton. Congenital mutations of FLNB at the actin-binding domain (ABD) are known to cause abnormalities of skeletal development, such as atelosteogenesis types I and III and Larsen's syndrome, although the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Here, using fluorescence microscopy, we characterized the reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton in cells expressing each of six pathological FLNB mutants that have been linked to skeletal abnormalities. The subfractionation assay showed a greater accumulation of the FLNB ABD mutants W148R and E227K than the wild-type protein to the cytoskeleton. Ectopic expression of FLNB-W148R and, to a lesser extent, FLNB-E227K induced prominent F-actin accumulations and the consequent rearrangement of focal adhesions, myosin II, and septin filaments and results in a delayed directional migration of the cells. The W148R protein-induced cytoskeletal rearrangement was partially attenuated by the inhibition of myosin II, p21-activated protein kinase, or Rho-associated protein kinase. The expression of a single-head ABD fragment with the mutations partially mimicked the rearrangement induced by the dimer. The F-actin clustering through the interaction with the mutant FLNB ABD may limit the cytoskeletal reorganization, preventing normal skeletal development.

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A role for the actin cytoskeleton in the hormonal and growth-factor-mediated activation of protein kinase B

Biochemical Journal ◽

10.1042/0264-6021:3530735v ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 353 (3) ◽

pp. 735

Author(s):

K. PEYROLLIER ◽

E. HAJDUCH ◽

A. GRAY ◽

G. J. LITHERLAND ◽

A. R. PRESCOTT ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Growth Factor ◽

Protein Kinase ◽

Actin Cytoskeleton ◽

Protein Kinase B

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Spatial control of actin-based motility through plasmalemmal PtdIns(4,5)P2-rich raft assemblies.

Biochemical Society Symposium ◽

10.1042/bss0720119 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 72 ◽

pp. 119-127 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Tamara Golub ◽

Caroni Pico

Keyword(s):

Protein Kinase ◽

Cell Surface ◽

Actin Cytoskeleton ◽

Lipid Rafts ◽

Patch Clustering ◽

Pkc Protein Kinase C ◽

Membrane Bound ◽

And Function ◽

Cytoskeleton Dynamics ◽

Syndrome Protein

The interactions of cells with their environment involve regulated actin-based motility at defined positions along the cell surface. Sphingolipid- and cholesterol-dependent microdomains (rafts) order proteins at biological membranes, and have been implicated in most signalling processes at the cell surface. Many membrane-bound components that regulate actin cytoskeleton dynamics and cell-surface motility associate with PtdIns(4,5)P2-rich lipid rafts. Although raft integrity is not required for substrate-directed cell spreading, or to initiate signalling for motility, it is a prerequisite for sustained and organized motility. Plasmalemmal rafts redistribute rapidly in response to signals, triggering motility. This process involves the removal of rafts from sites that are not interacting with the substrate, apparently through endocytosis, and a local accumulation at sites of integrin-mediated substrate interactions. PtdIns(4,5)P2-rich lipid rafts can assemble into patches in a process depending on PtdIns(4,5)P2, Cdc42 (cell-division control 42), N-WASP (neural Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein) and actin cytoskeleton dynamics. The raft patches are sites of signal-induced actin assembly, and their accumulation locally promotes sustained motility. The patches capture microtubules, which promote patch clustering through PKA (protein kinase A), to steer motility. Raft accumulation at the cell surface, and its coupling to motility are influenced greatly by the expression of intrinsic raft-associated components that associate with the cytosolic leaflet of lipid rafts. Among them, GAP43 (growth-associated protein 43)-like proteins interact with PtdIns(4,5)P2 in a Ca2+/calmodulin and PKC (protein kinase C)-regulated manner, and function as intrinsic determinants of motility and anatomical plasticity. Plasmalemmal PtdIns(4,5)P2-rich raft assemblies thus provide powerful organizational principles for tight spatial and temporal control of signalling in motility.

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