The formin mDia2 stabilizes microtubules independently of its actin nucleation activity

The formin mDia2 stabilizes microtubules independently of its actin nucleation activity

A critical microtubule (MT) polarization event in cell migration is the Rho/mDia-dependent stabilization of a subset of MTs oriented toward the direction of migration. Although mDia nucleates actin filaments, it is unclear whether this or a separate activity of mDia underlies MT stabilization. We generated two actin mutants (K853A and I704A) in a constitutively active version of mDia2 containin...

Microtubule Stabilization: Formins Assert Their Independence

Mammalian Diaphanous-related (mDia) formins are well known for their actin nucleation and filament elongation activities. They have since emerged as microtubule-binding proteins, and a recent study shows that mDia2 stabilizes microtubules independently of its actin nucleation activity.

The formin homology 1 domain modulates the actin nucleation and bundling activity of Arabidopsis FORMIN1.

The organization of actin filaments into large ordered structures is a tightly controlled feature of many cellular processes. However, the mechanisms by which actin filament polymerization is initiated from the available pool of profilin-bound actin monomers remain unknown in plants. Because the spontaneous polymerization of actin monomers bound to profilin is inhibited, the intervention of an ...

, Christina L . Effect on Actin Assembly Formin Cappuccino and Its Drosophila Interaction between Microtubules

Differential interactions of the formins INF2, mDia1, and mDia2 with microtubules

A number of cellular processes use both microtubules and actin filaments, but the molecular machinery linking these two cytoskeletal elements remains to be elucidated in detail. Formins are actin-binding proteins that have multiple effects on actin dynamics, and one formin, mDia2, has been shown to bind and stabilize microtubules through its formin homology 2 (FH2) domain. Here we show that thr...