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 ResearchMeSH KeywordsActin CytoskeletonActin Depolymerizing FactorsActinsCofilin 1HumansLim KinasesPhosphorylationSaccharomyces cerevisiaeConceptsN-terminal regionActin bindingSequence requirementsLIM kinaseAnalysis of individual variantsInactivates cofilinS. cerevisiaeRegulatory tailFamily proteinsActin depolymerizationPhosphorylation sitesKinase recognitionSequence variantsInhibitory phosphorylationCofilinN-terminusIndividual variantsFunctional constraintsActinDisordered sequencesPhosphorylationSequenceBiochemical analysisSequence constraintsKinase
2023
Twist response of actin filaments
Bibeau J, Pandit N, Gray S, Nejad N, Sindelar C, Cao W, De La Cruz E. Twist response of actin filaments. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2023, 120: e2208536120. PMID: 36656858, PMCID: PMC9942836, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2208536120.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2021
Clusters of a Few Bound Cofilins Sever Actin Filaments
Bibeau JP, Gray S, De La Cruz EM. Clusters of a Few Bound Cofilins Sever Actin Filaments. Journal Of Molecular Biology 2021, 433: 166833. PMID: 33524412, PMCID: PMC8689643, DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2021.166833.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchActin CytoskeletonActin Depolymerizing FactorsActinsBiophysical PhenomenaCryoelectron MicroscopyCytoskeletonHumansKineticsProtein BindingStructural basis of fast- and slow-severing actin–cofilactin boundaries
Hocky GM, Sindelar CV, Cao W, Voth GA, De La Cruz EM. Structural basis of fast- and slow-severing actin–cofilactin boundaries. Journal Of Biological Chemistry 2021, 296: 100337. PMID: 33508320, PMCID: PMC7961102, DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.100337.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2020
Thermal fracture kinetics of heterogeneous semiflexible polymers
Lorenzo AM, De La Cruz EM, Koslover EF. Thermal fracture kinetics of heterogeneous semiflexible polymers. Soft Matter 2020, 16: 2017-2024. PMID: 31996875, PMCID: PMC7047574, DOI: 10.1039/c9sm01637f.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchStructures 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 ResearchMeSH KeywordsActin CytoskeletonActin Depolymerizing FactorsAnimalsBinding SitesCryoelectron MicroscopyHumansPhosphorylationProtein BindingRabbitsConceptsFilament 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 ResearchMeSH KeywordsActin CytoskeletonActin Depolymerizing FactorsAnimalsCryoelectron MicroscopyProtein Structure, QuaternaryRabbitsConceptsCofilin-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 ResearchMeSH KeywordsActin CytoskeletonActin Depolymerizing FactorsCryoelectron MicroscopyMicroscopy, FluorescenceMolecular Dynamics SimulationMolecular MimicryPhosphorylationProtein BindingSerineConceptsActin 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 segmentsFilamentsActin Filament Strain Promotes Severing and Cofilin Dissociation
Schramm AC, Hocky GM, Voth GA, Blanchoin L, Martiel JL, De La Cruz EM. Actin Filament Strain Promotes Severing and Cofilin Dissociation. Biophysical Journal 2017, 112: 2624-2633. PMID: 28636918, PMCID: PMC5479148, DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2017.05.016.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsActin CytoskeletonActin Depolymerizing FactorsActinsCryoelectron MicroscopyElasticityMolecular Dynamics SimulationProtein BindingRotationConceptsContinuum mechanics modelStrain energy distributionMechanical propertiesMechanics modelFilament twistingEnhanced spatial resolutionFilament mechanical propertiesElastic energyTorsional rigidityShape deformationSpatial resolutionContinuum modelTorsional flexibilityFilament bendingCofilactin filamentsDynamics simulationsMolecular dynamics simulationsBucklingCofilin-decorated segmentsDeformationBendingBoundariesEnergy distributionLoadFilament model
2015
Metavinculin Tunes the Flexibility and the Architecture of Vinculin-Induced Bundles of Actin Filaments
Durer Z, McGillivary RM, Kang H, Elam WA, Vizcarra CL, Hanein D, De La Cruz EM, Reisler E, Quinlan ME. Metavinculin Tunes the Flexibility and the Architecture of Vinculin-Induced Bundles of Actin Filaments. Journal Of Molecular Biology 2015, 427: 2782-2798. PMID: 26168869, PMCID: PMC4540644, DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2015.07.005.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMetavinculin tail domainVinculin tail domainActin filamentsTail domainSevering activityCell-extracellular matrix junctionsF-actinC-terminal tail domainTotal internal reflection fluorescence microscopy experimentsLonger splice isoformsLimited proteolysis experimentsActin filament bundlesFluorescence microscopy experimentsMatrix junctionsSite-directed labelingSplice isoformsAbundant proteinsProteolysis experimentsMuscle cell functionFilament organizationVinculinFilament bundlesInterprotomer contactsCell functionFilament flexibilityMechanical Heterogeneity Favors Fragmentation of Strained Actin Filaments
De La Cruz EM, Martiel JL, Blanchoin L. Mechanical Heterogeneity Favors Fragmentation of Strained Actin Filaments. Biophysical Journal 2015, 108: 2270-2281. PMID: 25954884, PMCID: PMC4423049, DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2015.03.058.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMechanical propertiesFilament deformationEnergy densityElastic energyLocal shear forcesDeformation modesFilament strainFilament mechanical propertiesCompliant segmentsMechanical heterogeneityCompressive forceShear forceDeformationFree energy densityElastic free energy densityTwisting rigiditiesShape deformationLocal discontinuitiesSpatial confinementElasticitySevering efficiencyEnergyEnergy gradientConfinementForce
2013
Biophysics of actin filament severing by cofilin
Elam WA, Kang H, De La Cruz EM. Biophysics of actin filament severing by cofilin. FEBS Letters 2013, 587: 1215-1219. PMID: 23395798, PMCID: PMC4079045, DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2013.01.062.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchActin CytoskeletonActin Depolymerizing FactorsActinsAnimalsBiophysical PhenomenaHumansKineticsModels, MolecularProtein BindingThermodynamicsMolecular Origins of Cofilin-Linked Changes in Actin Filament Mechanics
Fan J, Saunders MG, Haddadian EJ, Freed KF, De La Cruz EM, Voth GA. Molecular Origins of Cofilin-Linked Changes in Actin Filament Mechanics. Journal Of Molecular Biology 2013, 425: 1225-1240. PMID: 23352932, PMCID: PMC3740545, DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2013.01.020.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2011
Cofilin-Linked Changes in Actin Filament Flexibility Promote Severing
McCullough BR, Grintsevich EE, Chen CK, Kang H, Hutchison AL, Henn A, Cao W, Suarez C, Martiel JL, Blanchoin L, Reisler E, De La Cruz EM. Cofilin-Linked Changes in Actin Filament Flexibility Promote Severing. Biophysical Journal 2011, 101: 151-159. PMID: 21723825, PMCID: PMC3127193, DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2011.05.049.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2010
The Kinetics of Cooperative Cofilin Binding Reveals Two States of the Cofilin-Actin Filament
De La Cruz EM, Sept D. The Kinetics of Cooperative Cofilin Binding Reveals Two States of the Cofilin-Actin Filament. Biophysical Journal 2010, 98: 1893-1901. PMID: 20441753, PMCID: PMC2862197, DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2010.01.023.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchActin 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
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
2001
Structural biology. Actin' up.
De La Cruz E, Pollard T. Structural biology. Actin' up. Science 2001, 293: 616-8. PMID: 11474090, DOI: 10.1126/science.1063558.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchActin Depolymerizing FactorsActinsAdenosine DiphosphateAdenosine TriphosphateBiopolymersContractile ProteinsCrystallography, X-RayHydrolysisMicrofilament ProteinsPhosphatesProfilinsProtein BindingProtein ConformationProtein Structure, SecondaryProtein Structure, TertiaryProtein SubunitsRhodaminesThymosin