Loss of Dictyostelium HSPC300 causes a scar-like phenotype and loss of SCAR protein.

ABSTRACT:

Background

SCAR/WAVE proteins couple signalling to actin polymerization, and are thus fundamental to the formation of pseudopods and lamellipods. They are controlled as part of a five-membered complex that includes the tiny HSPC300 protein. It is not known why SCAR/WAVE is found in such a large assembly, but in Dictyostelium the four larger subunits have different, clearly delineated functions.

Results

We have generated Dictyostelium mutants in which the HSPC300 gene is disrupted. As has been seen in other regulatory complex mutants, SCAR is lost in these cells, apparently by a post-translational mechanism, though PIR121 levels do not change. HSPC300 knockouts resemble scar mutants in slow migration, roundness, and lack of large pseudopods. However hspc300-colonies on bacter

SUBMITTER: Pollitt AY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2652429 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature