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-Structure paper
Title | Structures reveal a key mechanism of WAVE regulatory complex activation by Rac1 GTPase. |
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Journal, issue, pages | Nat Commun, Vol. 13, Issue 1, Page 5444, Year 2022 |
Publish date | Sep 16, 2022 |
Authors | Bojian Ding / Sheng Yang / Matthias Schaks / Yijun Liu / Abbigale J Brown / Klemens Rottner / Saikat Chowdhury / Baoyu Chen / |
PubMed Abstract | The Rho-family GTPase Rac1 activates the WAVE regulatory complex (WRC) to drive Arp2/3 complex-mediated actin polymerization in many essential processes. Rac1 binds to WRC at two distinct sites-the ...The Rho-family GTPase Rac1 activates the WAVE regulatory complex (WRC) to drive Arp2/3 complex-mediated actin polymerization in many essential processes. Rac1 binds to WRC at two distinct sites-the A and D sites. Precisely how Rac1 binds and how the binding triggers WRC activation remain unknown. Here we report WRC structures by itself, and when bound to single or double Rac1 molecules, at ~3 Å resolutions by cryogenic-electron microscopy. The structures reveal that Rac1 binds to the two sites by distinct mechanisms, and binding to the A site, but not the D site, drives WRC activation. Activation involves a series of unique conformational changes leading to the release of sequestered WCA (WH2-central-acidic) polypeptide, which stimulates the Arp2/3 complex to polymerize actin. Together with biochemical and cellular analyses, the structures provide a novel mechanistic understanding of how the Rac1-WRC-Arp2/3-actin signaling axis is regulated in diverse biological processes and diseases. |
External links | Nat Commun / PubMed:36114192 / PubMed Central |
Methods | EM (single particle) |
Resolution | 3.0 Å |
Structure data | EMDB-26732, PDB-7usc: EMDB-26733, PDB-7usd: EMDB-26734, PDB-7use: |
Chemicals | ChemComp-GTP: ChemComp-MG: ChemComp-GNP: |
Source |
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Keywords | CELL INVASION / actin regulator / GTPase binding protein / cytoskeletal regulator |