Phosphorylation of the WASP-VCA domain increases its affinity for the Arp2/3 complex and enhances actin polymerization by WASP.
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Cory GO, Cramer R, Blanchoin L, Ridley AJ
Phosphorylation of the WASP-VCA domain increases its affinity for the Arp2/3 complex and enhances actin polymerization by WASP.
Mol Cell. 2003 May;11(5):1229-39.
- PubMed ID
- 12769847 [ View in PubMed]
- Abstract
Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASP) and neural (N)-WASP regulate dynamic actin structures through the ability of their VCA domains to bind to and stimulate the actin nucleating activity of the Arp2/3 complex. Here we identify two phosphorylation sites in the VCA domain of WASP at serines 483 and 484. S483 and S484 are substrates for casein kinase 2 in vitro and in vivo. Phosphorylation of these residues increases the affinity of the VCA domain for the Arp2/3 complex 7-fold and is required for efficient in vitro actin polymerization by the full-length WASP molecule. We propose that constitutive VCA domain phosphorylation is required for optimal stimulation of the Arp2/3 complex by WASP.