F-actin-bundling sites are conserved in proteins with villin-type headpiece domains

Mol Biol Cell. 2020 Aug 1;31(17):1857-1866. doi: 10.1091/mbc.E20-02-0158. Epub 2020 Jun 10.

Abstract

Villin is a major actin-bundling protein that assembles the brush border of intestinal and renal epithelial cells. The villin "headpiece" domain and the actin-binding residues within it regulate its actin-bundling function. Substantial experimental and theoretical information about the three-dimensional structure of the isolated villin headpiece, including a description of the actin-binding residues within the headpiece, is available. Despite that, the actin-bundling site in the full-length (FL) villin protein remains unidentified. We used this existing villin headpiece nuclear magnetic resonance data and performed mutational analysis and functional assays to identify the actin-bundling site in FL human villin protein. By careful evaluation of these conserved actin-binding residues in human advillin protein, we demonstrate their functional significance in the over 30 proteins that contain a villin-type headpiece domain. Our study is the first that combines the available structural data on villin headpiece with functional assays to identify the actin-binding residues in FL villin that regulate its filament-bundling activity. Our findings could have wider implications for other actin-bundling proteins that contain a villin-type headpiece domain.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Actins / metabolism
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Amino Acids / genetics
  • Animals
  • Binding Sites / genetics
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism
  • Cytoskeleton / metabolism
  • Dogs
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Madin Darby Canine Kidney Cells
  • Microfilament Proteins / genetics*
  • Microfilament Proteins / metabolism*
  • Microfilament Proteins / physiology
  • Protein Binding / genetics
  • Protein Domains / genetics
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary

Substances

  • AVIL protein, human
  • Actins
  • Amino Acids
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Microfilament Proteins
  • VIL1 protein, human
  • villin