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WAVE binds Ena/VASP for enhanced Arp2/3 complex–based actin assembly

1 janv. 2015Molecular Biology of the Cell

DOI : 10.1091/mbc.e14-07-1200

Auteurs

Svitlana Havrylenko, Philippe Noguera, Majdouline Abou-Ghali, John Manzi, Fahima Faqir, Audrey Lamora, Christophe Guérin, Laurent Blanchoin, Julie Plastino

Résumé

The WAVE complex is the main activator of the Arp2/3 complex for actin filament nucleation and assembly in the lamellipodia of moving cells. Other important players in lamellipodial protrusion are Ena/VASP proteins, which enhance actin filament elongation. Here we examine the molecular coordination between the nucleating activity of the Arp2/3 complex and the elongating activity of Ena/VASP proteins for the formation of actin networks. Using an in vitro bead motility assay, we show that WAVE directly binds VASP, resulting in an increase in Arp2/3 complex–based actin assembly. We show that this interaction is important in vivo as well, for the formation of lamellipodia during the ventral enclosure event of Caenorhabditis elegans embryogenesis. Ena/VASP's ability to bind F-actin and profilin-complexed G-actin are important for its effect, whereas Ena/VASP tetramerization is not necessary. Our data are consistent with the idea that binding of Ena/VASP to WAVE potentiates Arp2/3 complex activity and lamellipodial actin assembly.