The neuronal p35 activator of Cdk5 is a novel F-actin binding and bundling protein

Cell Mol Life Sci. 2011 May;68(9):1633-43. doi: 10.1007/s00018-010-0562-9. Epub 2010 Oct 26.

Abstract

The neuronal Cdk5 activator p35 is involved in a multitude of neuronal activities, including cytoskeletal organization. We show here that p35 directly interacts with filamentous actin (F-actin) but not with monomeric actin (G-actin). Through binding, p35 induces the formation of actin bundles and stabilizes F-actin against dilution-induced depolymerization. p35 forms intermolecular self-associations, suggesting that p35 cross-links actin filaments into bundles via its intermolecular self-association. p35 dimerization and association with F-actin occur at the N-terminal region that is absent in the calpain-cleaved product p25, indicating that such p35 properties are lost by its truncation induced under neurotoxic conditions. Using p35 phosphorylated by Cdk5 and a mutational approach, we demonstrate that the phosphorylation of p35 promotes its homodimerization and p35-induced formation of F-actin bundles. In addition, the phosphorylation regulates p35 distribution to microtubule and actin cytoskeletons. Together, these observations define a novel function for p35 in cytoskeletal regulation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actins / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • COS Cells
  • Calpain / metabolism
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 5 / metabolism*
  • Microfilament Proteins / metabolism
  • Microtubules / metabolism
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / chemistry
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism*
  • Neurons / metabolism*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Binding

Substances

  • Actins
  • Microfilament Proteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 5
  • Calpain