Characterization of engineered actin binding proteins that control filament assembly and structure.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Eukaryotic cells strictly regulate the structure and assembly of their actin filament networks in response to various stimuli. The actin binding proteins that control filament assembly are therefore attractive targets for those who wish to reorganize actin filaments and reengineer the cytoskeleton. Unfortunately, the naturally occurring actin binding proteins include only a limited set of pointed-end cappers, or proteins that will block polymerization from the slow-growing end of actin filaments. Of the few that are known, most are part of large multimeric complexes that are challenging to manipulate.

Methodology/principal findings

We describe here the use of phage display mutagenesis to generate of a new class of binding protein that can be targeted to the pointe

SUBMITTER: Brawley CM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2980482 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature