Gelsolin, a multifunctional actin-modulating protein, has two actin-binding sites which may interact cooperatively. Native gelsolin requires micromolar Ca2+ for optimal binding of actin to both sites, and for expression of its actin filament-severing function. Recent work has shown that an NH2-terminal chymotryptic 17-kD fragment of human plasma gelsolin contains one of the actin-binding sites, and that this fragment binds to and severs actin filaments weakly irrespective of whether Ca2+ is present. The other binding site is Ca2+ sensitive, and is found in a chymotryptic peptide derived from the COOH-terminal two-thirds of plasma gelsolin; this fragment does not sever F-actin or accelerate the polymerization of actin. This paper documents that larger thermolysin-derived fragments encompassing the NH2-terminal half of gelsolin sever actin filaments as effectively as native plasma gelsolin, although in a Ca2+-insensitive manner. This result indicates that the NH2-terminal half of gelsolin is the actin-severing domain. The stringent Ca2+ requirement for actin severing found in intact gelsolin is not due to a direct effect of Ca2+ on the severing domain, but indirectly through an effect on domains in the COOH-terminal half of the molecule to allow exposure of both actin-binding sites.
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1 October 1986
Article|
October 01 1986
The actin filament-severing domain of plasma gelsolin.
C Chaponnier
P A Janmey
H L Yin
Online ISSN: 1540-8140
Print ISSN: 0021-9525
J Cell Biol (1986) 103 (4): 1473–1481.
Citation
C Chaponnier, P A Janmey, H L Yin; The actin filament-severing domain of plasma gelsolin.. J Cell Biol 1 October 1986; 103 (4): 1473–1481. doi: https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.103.4.1473
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