Mechanism of synergistic activation of Arp2/3 complex by cortactin and WASP-family proteins

Fred E. Fregoso, Malgorzata Boczkowska, Grzegorz Rebowski, Peter J. Carman, Trevor Eeuwen and Roberto Dominguez ()
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Fred E. Fregoso: University of Pennsylvania
Malgorzata Boczkowska: University of Pennsylvania
Grzegorz Rebowski: University of Pennsylvania
Peter J. Carman: University of Pennsylvania
Trevor Eeuwen: The Rockefeller University
Roberto Dominguez: University of Pennsylvania

Nature Communications, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract Cortactin coactivates Arp2/3 complex synergistically with WASP-family nucleation-promoting factors (NPFs) and stabilizes branched networks by linking Arp2/3 complex to F-actin. It is poorly understood how cortactin performs these functions. We describe the 2.89 Å resolution cryo-EM structure of cortactin’s N-terminal domain (Cort1-76) bound to Arp2/3 complex. Cortactin binds Arp2/3 complex through an inverted Acidic domain (D20-V29), which targets the same site on Arp3 as the Acidic domain of NPFs but with opposite polarity. Sequences N- and C-terminal to cortactin’s Acidic domain do not increase its affinity for Arp2/3 complex but contribute toward coactivation with NPFs. Coactivation further increases with NPF dimerization and for longer cortactin constructs with stronger binding to F-actin. The results suggest that cortactin contributes to Arp2/3 complex coactivation with NPFs in two ways, by helping recruit the complex to F-actin and by stabilizing the short-pitch (active) conformation, which are both byproducts of cortactin’s core function in branch stabilization.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42229-y

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