Transformation of cells by the src oncogene causes dramatic changes in adhesive structures. In v-src-transformed 3Y1 rat fibroblasts (3Y1-src), there are actin-rich protrusive structures called podosomes by which attachment to the extracellular matrix is thought to occur. In this study, we found that neural Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (N-WASP) colocalizes with filamentous actin (F-actin) i...

Extended Fer-CIP4 homology (EFC)/FCH-BAR (F-BAR) domains generate and bind to tubular membrane structures of defined diameters that are involved in the formation and fission of endocytotic vesicles. Formin-binding protein 17 (FBP17) and Toca-1 contain EFC/F-BAR domains and bind to neural Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (N-WASP), which links phosphatidylinositol (4,5)-bisphosphate (PIP(2)) and ...

Reorganization of cortical actin filaments plays critical roles in cell movement and pattern formation. Recently, the WASP and WAVE family proteins WASP and N-WASP, and WAVE1, WAVE2 and WAVE3 have been shown to regulate cortical actin filament reorganization in response to extracellular stimuli. These proteins each have a verprolin-homology (V) domain, cofilin-homology (C) domain and an acidic ...

Cell migration is crucial for many biological and pathological processes such as chemotaxis of immune cells, fibroblast migration during wound healing, and tumor cell invasion and metastasis. Cells migrate forward by extending membrane protrusions. The formation of these protrusions is driven by assembly of actin filaments at the leading edge. Neural Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (N-WASP), a...

Neuronal Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome protein (N-WASP) transmits signals from Cdc42 to the nucleation of actin filaments by Arp2/3 complex. Although full-length N-WASP is a weak activator of Arp2/3 complex, its activity can be enhanced by upstream regulators such as Cdc42 and PI(4,5)P(2). We dissected this activation reaction and found that the previously described physical interaction between the ...

The actin-related protein (Arp) 2/3 complex is an essential regulator of de novo actin filament formation. Arp2/3 nucleates the polymerization of actin and creates branched actin filaments when activated by Arp2/3-complex activating domain (VCA) of Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome proteins (WASP family proteins). We found that the branching of actin filaments on pre-existing ADP filaments mediated by t...

The Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) is a primary immunodeficiency disorder caused by a mutation in WAS protein (WASp) that results in defective actin polymerization. Although the function of many hematopoietic cells requires WASp, the specific expression and function of this molecule in natural killer (NK) cells is unknown. Here, we report that WAS patients have increased percentages of peripher...

Transformation of cells by the src oncogene causes dramatic changes in adhesive structures. In v-src-transformed 3Y1 rat fibroblasts (3Y1-src), there are actin-rich protrusive structures called podosomes by which attachment to the extracellular matrix is thought to occur. In this study, we found that neural Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (N-WASP) colocalizes with filamentous actin (F-actin) i...

The aim of this paper is to present the wasp based computational model and many applications of wasp based algorithms. A general frame for designing a wasp based algorithm, starting from the classical problem of task allocation in a factory, is realized. The most important characteristics of the wasp computational model are underlined and the way of particularization of these characteristics fo...

Negative regulation of receptor signaling is essential for controlling cell activation and differentiation. In B-lymphocytes, the down-regulation of B-cell antigen receptor (BCR) signaling is critical for suppressing the activation of self-reactive B cells; however, the mechanism underlying the negative regulation of signaling remains elusive. Using genetically manipulated mouse models and tota...