The dynamics of actin-based motility depend on surface parameters

Anne Bernheim-Groswasser, Sebastian Wiesner, Roy M. Golsteyn, Marie-France Carlier () and Cécile Sykes ()
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Anne Bernheim-Groswasser: Laboratoire Physico-chimie ‘Curie’, UMR 168 CNRS/Institut Curie
Sebastian Wiesner: Dynamique du Cytosquelette, Laboratoire d'Enzymologie et Biochimie Structurales, UPR A 9063 CNRS
Roy M. Golsteyn: Laboratoire Physico-chimie ‘Curie’, UMR 168 CNRS/Institut Curie
Marie-France Carlier: Dynamique du Cytosquelette, Laboratoire d'Enzymologie et Biochimie Structurales, UPR A 9063 CNRS
Cécile Sykes: Laboratoire Physico-chimie ‘Curie’, UMR 168 CNRS/Institut Curie

Nature, 2002, vol. 417, issue 6886, 308-311

Abstract: Abstract In cells, actin polymerization at the plasma membrane is induced by the recruitment of proteins such as the Arp2/3 complex, and the zyxin/VASP complex1,2,3. The physical mechanism of force generation by actin polymerization has been described theoretically using various approaches4,5,6, but lacks support from experimental data. By the use of reconstituted motility medium7, we find that the Wiskott–Aldrich syndrome protein8,9 (WASP) subdomain, known as VCA, is sufficient to induce actin polymerization and movement when grafted on microspheres. Changes in the surface density of VCA protein or in the microsphere diameter markedly affect the velocity regime, shifting from a continuous to a jerky movement resembling that of the mutated ‘hopping’ Listeria10. These results highlight how simple physical parameters such as surface geometry and protein density directly affect spatially controlled actin polymerization, and play a fundamental role in actin-dependent movement.

Date: 2002
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DOI: 10.1038/417308a

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