Structure and function of the interacting domains of Spire and Fmn-family formins.
Publication Type:
Journal ArticleSource:
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, Volume 108, Issue 29, p.11884-9 (2011)Keywords:
Actins, Animals, Crystallization, Drosophila melanogaster, Drosophila Proteins, Fluorescence Polarization, Humans, Microfilament Proteins, Models, Molecular, Nerve Tissue Proteins, Oogenesis, Protein Conformation, Protein Structure, TertiaryAbstract:
<p>Evidence for cooperation between actin nucleators is growing. The WH2-containing nucleator Spire and the formin Cappuccino interact directly, and both are essential for assembly of an actin mesh during Drosophila oogenesis. Their interaction requires the kinase noncatalytic C-lobe domain (KIND) domain of Spire and the C-terminal tail of the formin. Here we describe the crystal structure of the KIND domain of human Spir1 alone and in complex with the tail of Fmn2, a mammalian ortholog of Cappuccino. The KIND domain is structurally similar to the C-lobe of protein kinases. The Fmn2 tail is coordinated in an acidic cleft at the base of the domain that appears to have evolved via deletion of a helix from the canonical kinase fold. Our functional analysis of Cappuccino reveals an unexpected requirement for its tail in actin assembly. In addition, we find that the KIND/tail interaction blocks nucleation by Cappuccino and promotes its displacement from filament barbed ends providing insight into possible modes of cooperation between Spire and Cappuccino.</p>