Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
16
Scar, WASp and the Arp2/3
Complex in Dictyostelium
Migration
Simone Blagg
and
Robert Insall
The Arp2/3 complex plays a key role in the polymerization of actin filaments
in moving cells. Activation of the Arp2/3 complex is in turn controlled by the
members of the WASp/Scar family of proteins. The two defining members of
this family, N-WASp and Scar, are regulated differently, and appear to play
different roles in cell movement. Inactive N-WASp is inhibited by an
intramolecular interaction, whereas recent data suggests that Scar is held
inactive within a complex of four other proteins. All four proteins are present
in Dictyostelium, suggesting this method of Scar regulation is important and
conserved through evolution. We have been analysing this system using
Dictyostelium genetics, a system which has provided valuable insights into
many aspects of the cytoskeleton.
Introduction
It has been known for two decades that actin polymerization plays a major
role in driving forward the leading edge of migrating cells (Tilney et al., 1983).
However,
the molecular mechanism of
this process is only now being
elucidated.
