American Society for Microbiology, Molecular and Cellular Biology, 14(34), p. 2600-2610, 2014
DOI: 10.1128/mcb.00017-14
Full text: Download
The actin cytoskeleton is essential for cell adhesion and migration, functions important for tumor invasion. In addition to binding N-WASP/WASP, WIP binds and stabilizes F-actin. WIP−/− fibroblasts were used to test the role of WIP in F-actin function. WIP−/− cells had defective focal adhesion (FA), stress fiber assembly, and adherence to substrates, functions that were restored by transduction of wild-type WIP. Protein and mRNA levels of several FA constituents regulated by the myocardin-related transcription factor (MRTF)–serum response factor (SRF) transcription factor complex were reduced in WIP−/− fibroblasts. The level of G-actin, which sequesters MRTF in the cytoplasm, was increased, and nuclear localization of MRTF-A and SRF was reduced, in WIP−/− fibroblasts. Transfection of an MRTF-A mutant that constitutively translocates to the nucleus or transfection of constitutively active SRF restored FA and stress fiber assembly. Fibroblasts from knock-in mice expressing a WIP mutant that fails to bind actin phenocopied WIP−/− fibroblasts. Thus, WIP is a novel regulator of FA assembly and cell adhesion.