Mechanisms of actin filament severing and elongation by formins.

ABSTRACT: Humans express 15 formins that play crucial roles in actin-based processes, including cytokinesis, cell motility and mechanotransduction^1,2. However, the lack of structures bound to the actin filament (F-actin) has been a major impediment to understanding formin function. Whereas formins are known for their ability to nucleate and elongate F-actin^3-7, some formins can additionally depolymerize, sever or bundle F-actin. Two mammalian formins, inverted formin 2 (INF2) and diaphanous 1 (DIA1, encoded by DIAPH1), exemplify this diversity. INF2 shows potent severing activity but elongates weakly^8-11 whereas DIA1 has potent elongation activity but does not sever^4,8. Using cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) we show five structural states of INF2 and two

SUBMITTER: Palmer NJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11375965 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature