WICH, a novel verprolin homology domain-containing protein that functions cooperatively with N-WASP in actin-microspike formation

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2002 Feb 15;291(1):41-7. doi: 10.1006/bbrc.2002.6406.

Abstract

We describe a novel protein that contains a verprolin-homology (V) region, through which several actin-regulating proteins, including Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASP) family members, bind directly to actin. The amino acid sequence is homologous to the sequences of WASP-interacting protein (WIP) and CR16, both of which associate with WASP and/or N-WASP, and thus these three proteins constitute a new protein family. We named the protein WICH (WIP- and CR16-homologous protein). WICH associates strongly with N-WASP but only weakly with WASP via its C-terminal WASP-interacting (W) region. Ectopic expression of WICH induces actin-microspike formation through cooperation with N-WASP. In addition, expression of the W fragment of WICH suppresses microspike formation induced by N-WASP, indicating an essential role for WICH in N-WASP-induced microspike formation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actins / metabolism*
  • Blotting, Western
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • Fungal Proteins / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Microfilament Proteins / chemistry
  • Microfilament Proteins / genetics*
  • Microfilament Proteins / metabolism*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism*
  • Organ Specificity
  • Phosphoproteins*
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary / genetics
  • Pseudopodia / metabolism*
  • RNA, Messenger / biosynthesis
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins*
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein, Neuronal

Substances

  • Actins
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • Fungal Proteins
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Microfilament Proteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Phosphoproteins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • VRP1 protein, S cerevisiae
  • WASL protein, human
  • WIPF1 protein, human
  • WIPF2 protein, human
  • Wipf1 protein, rat
  • Wipf3 protein, rat
  • Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein, Neuronal