The functions of the actin nucleator Cobl in cellular morphogenesis critically depend on syndapin I

EMBO J. 2011 Jul 1;30(15):3147-59. doi: 10.1038/emboj.2011.207.

Abstract

Spatial control of cortical actin nucleation is indispensable for proper establishment and plasticity of cell morphology. Cobl is a novel WH2 domain-based actin nucleator. The cellular coordination of Cobl's nucleation activity, however, has remained elusive. Here, we reveal that Cobl's cellular functions are dependent on syndapin. Cobl/syndapin complexes form in vivo, as demonstrated by colocalization, coimmunoprecipitation and subcellular recruitment studies. In vitro reconstitutions and subcellular fractionations demonstrate that, via its lipid-binding Fer/CIP4 Homology (FCH)-Bin/Amphiphysin/Rvs (F-BAR) domain, syndapin recruits Cobl to membranes. Consistently, syndapin I RNAi impairs cortical localization of Cobl. Further functional studies in neurons show that Cobl and syndapin I work together in dendritic arbor development. Importantly, both proteins are crucial for dendritogenesis. Cobl-mediated functions in neuromorphogenesis critically rely on syndapin I and interestingly also on Arp3. Endogenous Cobl, syndapin I and the Arp2/3 complex activator and syndapin-binding partner N-WASP were present in one complex, as demonstrated by coimmunoprecipitations. Together, these data provide detailed insights into the molecular basis for Cobl-mediated functions and reveal that different actin nucleators are functionally intertwined by syndapin I during neuromorphogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actins / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism*
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • Humans
  • Immunoprecipitation
  • Mice
  • Microfilament Proteins
  • Microscopy, Confocal
  • Neurons / cytology*
  • Neurons / metabolism*
  • Protein Binding
  • Proteins / metabolism*
  • Rats

Substances

  • Actins
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Cobl protein, mouse
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • Microfilament Proteins
  • Pacsin1 protein, rat
  • Proteins