Key result
Wash functions downstream of Rho1 with Spire and Cappuccino to control actin and microtubule dynamics during Drosophila oogenesis, regulating both linear and branched actin networks.
Wash and Rho act as regulators of both linear- and branched-actin networks, suggesting an Arp2/3-mediated mechanism for coordinating these structures.
Wash links Rho GTPase to Arp2/3 in animals; leaves open roles in human cytoskeletal disease.
Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome (WAS) family proteins are Arp2/3 activators that mediate the branched-actin network formation required for cytoskeletal remodeling, intracellular transport and cell locomotion. Wasp and Scar/WAVE, the two founding members of the family, are regulated by the GTPases Cdc42 and Rac, respectively. By contrast, linear actin nucleators, such as Spire and formins, are regulated by the GTPase Rho. We recently identified a third WAS family member, called Wash, with Arp2/3-mediated actin nucleation activity. We show that Drosophila Wash interacts genetically with Arp2/3, and also functions downstream of Rho1 with Spire and the formin Cappuccino to control actin and microtubule dynamics during Drosophila oogenesis. Wash bundles and crosslinks F-actin and microtubules, is regulated by Rho1, Spire and Arp2/3, and is essential for actin cytoskeleton organization in the egg chamber. Our results establish Wash and Rho as regulators of both linear- and branched-actin networks, and suggest an Arp2/3-mediated mechanism for how cells might coordinately regulate these structures.
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Liu et al. (2009) studied Drosophila oogenesis (basic science). Wash protein and Rho1 was evaluated on Actin and microtubule dynamics. Wash functions downstream of Rho1 with Spire and Cappuccino to control actin and microtubule dynamics during Drosophila oogenesis, regulating both linear and branched actin networks.
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