TetraThymosinbeta is required for actin dynamics in Caenorhabditis elegans and acts via functionally different actin-binding repeats.

ABSTRACT: Generating specific actin structures via controlled actin polymerization is a prerequisite for eukaryote development and reproduction. We here report on an essential Caenorhabditis elegans protein tetraThymosinbeta expressed in developing neurons and crucial during oocyte maturation in adults. TetraThymosinbeta has four repeats, each related to the actin monomer-sequestering protein thymosinbeta 4 and assists in actin filament elongation. For homologues with similar multirepeat structures, a profilin-like mechanism of ushering actin onto filament barbed ends, based on the formation of a 1:1 complex, is proposed to underlie this activity. We, however, demonstrate that tetraThymosinbeta binds multiple actin monomers via different repeats and in addition also interacts with filamentous actin.

SUBMITTER: Van Troys M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC519163 | biostudies-literature | 2004 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature