WH2 domain: a small, versatile adapter for actin monomers

FEBS Lett. 2002 Feb 20;513(1):92-7. doi: 10.1016/s0014-5793(01)03242-2.

Abstract

The actin cytoskeleton plays a central role in many cell biological processes. The structure and dynamics of the actin cytoskeleton are regulated by numerous actin-binding proteins that usually contain one of the few known actin-binding motifs. WH2 domain (WASP homology domain-2) is a approximately 35 residue actin monomer-binding motif, that is found in many different regulators of the actin cytoskeleton, including the beta-thymosins, ciboulot, WASP (Wiskott Aldrich syndrome protein), verprolin/WIP (WASP-interacting protein), Srv2/CAP (adenylyl cyclase-associated protein) and several uncharacterized proteins. The most highly conserved residues in the WH2 domain are important in beta-thymosin's interactions with actin monomers, suggesting that all WH2 domains may interact with actin monomers through similar interfaces. Our sequence database searches did not reveal any WH2 domain-containing proteins in plants. However, we found three classes of these proteins: WASP, Srv2/CAP and verprolin/WIP in yeast and animals. This suggests that the WH2 domain is an ancient actin monomer-binding motif that existed before the divergence of fungal and animal lineages.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Actins / chemistry
  • Actins / metabolism*
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Binding Sites
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / chemistry
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / metabolism
  • Drosophila
  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Humans
  • Microfilament Proteins / chemistry
  • Microfilament Proteins / metabolism
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Phylogeny
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Proteins / chemistry*
  • Proteins / metabolism
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Thymosin / chemistry
  • Thymosin / metabolism
  • Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome
  • Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein

Substances

  • Actins
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Microfilament Proteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Proteins
  • WAS protein, human
  • Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein
  • cib protein, Drosophila
  • Thymosin