2024
Distinct functional constraints driving conservation of the cofilin N-terminal regulatory tail
Sexton J, Potchernikov T, Bibeau J, Casanova-Sepúlveda G, Cao W, Lou H, Boggon T, De La Cruz E, Turk B. Distinct functional constraints driving conservation of the cofilin N-terminal regulatory tail. Nature Communications 2024, 15: 1426. PMID: 38365893, PMCID: PMC10873347, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45878-9.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsN-terminal regionActin bindingSequence requirementsLIM kinaseAnalysis of individual variantsInactivates cofilinS. cerevisiaeRegulatory tailFamily proteinsActin depolymerizationPhosphorylation sitesKinase recognitionSequence variantsInhibitory phosphorylationCofilinN-terminusIndividual variantsFunctional constraintsActinDisordered sequencesPhosphorylationSequenceBiochemical analysisSequence constraintsKinase
2020
Structures of cofilin-induced structural changes reveal local and asymmetric perturbations of actin filaments
Huehn AR, Bibeau JP, Schramm AC, Cao W, De La Cruz EM, Sindelar CV. Structures of cofilin-induced structural changes reveal local and asymmetric perturbations of actin filaments. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2020, 117: 1478-1484. PMID: 31900364, PMCID: PMC6983403, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1915987117.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsFilament severingActin filamentsSevering activityCofilin/ADF familyActin conformational changesActin filament severingFilament-severing activityCryo-electron microscopy dataSevers actin filamentsWeak severing activityUnique binding modeCofilin clustersActin structuresCofilin bindingCofilin-decorated segmentsCofilinMolecular understandingBarbed endsConformational changesCooperative bindingBinding cooperativityFilament endsPositive cooperativityBinding modesSevering
2018
The actin filament twist changes abruptly at boundaries between bare and cofilin-decorated segments
Huehn A, Cao W, Elam WA, Liu X, De La Cruz EM, Sindelar CV. The actin filament twist changes abruptly at boundaries between bare and cofilin-decorated segments. Journal Of Biological Chemistry 2018, 293: 5377-5383. PMID: 29463680, PMCID: PMC5900768, DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ac118.001843.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCofilin-decorated segmentsConformational changesCofilin/ADF proteinsActin-remodeling proteinsBind actin filamentsActin filament interactionsCofilin-induced changesEffects of cofilinCooperative conformational changesProtein occupancyADF proteinsCellular processesCell divisionStructure-based methodsCryo-EMActin segmentsIntracellular transportActin filamentsFilament twistCooperative bindingCofilinTwist changesActinFluorophore labelingSubunits
2017
Phosphomimetic S3D cofilin binds but only weakly severs actin filaments
Elam WA, Cao W, Kang H, Huehn A, Hocky GM, Prochniewicz E, Schramm AC, Negrón K, Garcia J, Bonello TT, Gunning PW, Thomas DD, Voth GA, Sindelar CV, De La Cruz EM. Phosphomimetic S3D cofilin binds but only weakly severs actin filaments. Journal Of Biological Chemistry 2017, 292: 19565-19579. PMID: 28939776, PMCID: PMC5712599, DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m117.808378.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsActin bindingWild-type cofilinActin filament severingHigh cooperativitySubstitution of serineCofilin bindsActin cytoskeletonProtein cofilinCell divisionSer-3Filament severingAtom molecular dynamics simulationsSubunit interactionsN-terminusCofilinBiological processesActin filamentsTime-resolved phosphorescence anisotropyElectron cryomicroscopyRapid remodelingPhosphorylationSeveringFilament mechanical propertiesActin segmentsFilaments
2016
Cations Stiffen Actin Filaments by Adhering a Key Structural Element to Adjacent Subunits
Hocky GM, Baker JL, Bradley MJ, Sinitskiy AV, De La Cruz EM, Voth GA. Cations Stiffen Actin Filaments by Adhering a Key Structural Element to Adjacent Subunits. The Journal Of Physical Chemistry B 2016, 120: 4558-4567. PMID: 27146246, PMCID: PMC4959277, DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.6b02741.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsActin filamentsRegulatory proteinsD-loopSite-specific mutagenesisSpecific divalent cationsFilament severingStructural bioinformaticsAdjacent subunitsAccessible conformational spaceSubunit conformationActin subunitsKey structural elementsAmino acidsLarge-scale changesConformational spaceSubunitsFilament mechanical propertiesProteinFilamentsDivalent cationsMagnesium ionsMolecular dynamics simulationsConformationSitesCofilin
2014
Site-specific cation release drives actin filament severing by vertebrate cofilin
Kang H, Bradley MJ, Cao W, Zhou K, Grintsevich EE, Michelot A, Sindelar CV, Hochstrasser M, De La Cruz EM. Site-specific cation release drives actin filament severing by vertebrate cofilin. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2014, 111: 17821-17826. PMID: 25468977, PMCID: PMC4273407, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1413397111.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsFilament severingActin filamentsActin filament severingKey regulatory functionsConcentration of endsActin filament fragmentationEukaryotic cellsCation-binding sitesProtein cofilinDeletion mutantsS. cerevisiaeSubunit exchangeFilament turnoverActin polymerizationEssential functionsSite-specific interactionsCofilinMolecular mechanismsAssembly dynamicsRegulatory functionsActin moleculesFilament fragmentationFilament structureSustained motilitySevering
2010
Actin filament remodeling by actin depolymerization factor/cofilin
Pfaendtner J, De La Cruz EM, Voth GA. Actin filament remodeling by actin depolymerization factor/cofilin. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2010, 107: 7299-7304. PMID: 20368459, PMCID: PMC2867716, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0911675107.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsActin depolymerization factorSubunit interactionsCofilin bindingActin filamentsADF/cofilinFactor/cofilinLong-pitch helixHelix monomersNeighboring subunitMolecular basisSevering proteinHydrophobic loopConformational dynamicsSubdomain 1Subdomain 2Loop movesTriggers reorganizationCofilinFilament flexibilityFilamentsNative filamentsDNaseFilament contactsAtom simulationsBinding
2008
Cofilin Increases the Bending Flexibility of Actin Filaments: Implications for Severing and Cell Mechanics
McCullough BR, Blanchoin L, Martiel JL, De La Cruz EM. Cofilin Increases the Bending Flexibility of Actin Filaments: Implications for Severing and Cell Mechanics. Journal Of Molecular Biology 2008, 381: 550-558. PMID: 18617188, PMCID: PMC2753234, DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2008.05.055.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2004
Cofilin Binding to Muscle and Non-muscle Actin Filaments: Isoform-dependent Cooperative Interactions
De La Cruz EM. Cofilin Binding to Muscle and Non-muscle Actin Filaments: Isoform-dependent Cooperative Interactions. Journal Of Molecular Biology 2004, 346: 557-564. PMID: 15670604, DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2004.11.065.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsActin filamentsConcentration of cofilinActin isoformsFilament severingRegulatory proteinsCooperative free energyActin fluorescencePyrene-actin fluorescenceCofilinFilament bindingHuman cofilinEquilibrium bindingCooperative interactionsIntrinsic affinitySkeletal muscleIsoformsBindingFilamentsSeveringMuscle actinHill coefficientCooperativity modelFilament latticeIsolated siteProtein