2012
Identification of cation-binding sites on actin that drive polymerization and modulate bending stiffness
Kang H, Bradley MJ, McCullough BR, Pierre A, Grintsevich EE, Reisler E, De La Cruz EM. Identification of cation-binding sites on actin that drive polymerization and modulate bending stiffness. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2012, 109: 16923-16927. PMID: 23027950, PMCID: PMC3479481, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1211078109.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCation-binding sitesActin assemblyEukaryotic biologyLong-pitch helixActin functionSalt-dependent effectsCell divisionCell motilityActin polymerizationFilament assemblyAdjacent subunitsIntracellular transportActin filamentsPhysiological salt concentrationsActin monomersCellular shapeNonspecific ionic strength effectsDiscrete sites
2008
Widely Distributed Residues in Thymosin β4 Are Critical for Actin Binding
Au JK, Olivares AO, Henn A, Cao W, Safer D, De La Cruz EM. Widely Distributed Residues in Thymosin β4 Are Critical for Actin Binding. Biochemistry 2008, 47: 4181-4188. PMID: 18327913, PMCID: PMC2587058, DOI: 10.1021/bi701769u.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsActin Binding AffinityActin bindingProline residuesHydrophobic residuesAlanine residuesLysine residuesPro27Thymosin beta4Actin monomersPro29MutagenesisHydrophobic contactsLeu28Slow association rateResiduesLys19Thymosin β4Ile34Tbeta4Lys18Binding affinitiesTwo-step mechanismAssociation ratePro4Cis-trans isomerizationThe Roles of Thymosin β4 in Cell Migration and Cell-to-Cell Signaling in Disease
Au J, Krendel M, Safer D, De La Cruz E. The Roles of Thymosin β4 in Cell Migration and Cell-to-Cell Signaling in Disease. Protein Reviews 2008, 218-228. DOI: 10.1007/978-0-387-71749-4_9.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchΒ-thymosinsMetazoan cellsExtracellular cuesCell signalingFree actin monomersFilament elongationMonomeric actinActin monomersCell migrationInduction of angiogenesisRegulatory effectsTumor metastasisThymosin β4CellsTherapeutic applicationsSignalingPolypeptideActinΒ4High concentrationsAngiogenesisInductionFamilyComplexesTβ4Overview: Actin-Binding Protein Function and Its Relation to Disease Pathology
Krendel M, De La Cruz E. Overview: Actin-Binding Protein Function and Its Relation to Disease Pathology. Protein Reviews 2008, 65-82. DOI: 10.1007/978-0-387-71749-4_5.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchFundamental cellular processesForm of ATPHydrolysis of ATPActin cytoskeletonProtein functionCellular processesMyosin familyMotor proteinsActin filamentsActin monomersATP moleculesCell membraneDistinct mechanismsPathogenic bacteriaGenerate movementDisease pathologyATPFilamentsForce generationMotilityCytoskeletonOrganellesChemical energyProteinActin
2000
Thymosin-β4 Changes the Conformation and Dynamics of Actin Monomers
De La Cruz E, Ostap E, Brundage R, Reddy K, Sweeney H, Safer D. Thymosin-β4 Changes the Conformation and Dynamics of Actin Monomers. Biophysical Journal 2000, 78: 2516-2527. PMID: 10777749, PMCID: PMC1300842, DOI: 10.1016/s0006-3495(00)76797-x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsActinsAnimalsBinding SitesBiophysical PhenomenaBiophysicsCircular DichroismCross-Linking ReagentsFluorescent DyesHumansIn Vitro TechniquesKineticsMacromolecular SubstancesModels, MolecularMuscle, SkeletalMutagenesis, Site-DirectedNaphthalenesulfonatesOsmotic PressureProtein BindingProtein ConformationRabbitsRecombinant ProteinsThermodynamicsThymosinTritiumViscosityConceptsActin monomersActin monomer poolMgATP-actinMetazoan cellsNucleotide exchangeC-terminusSubdomain 2Conformational changesMonomer poolN-iodoacetyl-N'Cleavage siteActinThymosin β4Rate of dissociationAmide protonsSulfo-1Unique abilityBindingStructural dynamicsConformationTerminusNucleotidesProteolysisDifferent stabilitiesDegrees C
1998
Regulation of G protein-coupled Receptor Kinase 5 (GRK5) by Actin*
Freeman J, De La Cruz E, Pollard T, Lefkowitz R, Pitcher J. Regulation of G protein-coupled Receptor Kinase 5 (GRK5) by Actin*. Journal Of Biological Chemistry 1998, 273: 20653-20657. PMID: 9685424, DOI: 10.1074/jbc.273.32.20653.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsG protein-coupled receptor kinase 5G protein-coupled receptorsG protein-coupled receptor kinasesAgonist-occupied G protein-coupled receptorsAmino terminusPhosphorylation of GPCRsSoluble substratesMembrane-bound substratesProtein-coupled receptor kinasesMembrane-bound G protein-coupled receptorReceptor kinase 5Receptor kinasePresence of actinSubstrate specificityKinase activityActin filamentsActin bindsKinase 5Actin monomersAmino acidsPhosphorylationActinCalmodulinTerminusKinaseInteractions of Acanthamoeba Profilin with Actin and Nucleotides Bound to Actin †
Vinson V, De La Cruz E, Higgs H, Pollard T. Interactions of Acanthamoeba Profilin with Actin and Nucleotides Bound to Actin †. Biochemistry 1998, 37: 10871-10880. PMID: 9692980, DOI: 10.1021/bi980093l.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMg-ATPAcanthamoeba profilinMg-ADPExchange of ADPRabbit skeletal muscle actinAffinity of profilinSkeletal muscle actinFree barbed endsProfilin bindingSerine 38Nucleotide exchangeBarbed endsCysteine 374Actin monomersProfilinMuscle actinActinUnique siteIntrinsic fluorescenceFluorescence anisotropyATP-actinSubunit/Free actinSame affinityATP