PMID: 29749375

Authors:

Tanaka K, Takeda S, Mitsuoka K, Oda T, Kimura-Sakiyama C, Maeda Y, Narita A

Title:

Structural basis for cofilin binding and actin filament disassembly.

Journal:

Nat Commun. 2018 May 10;9(1):1860. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-04290-w.

Abstract:

Actin depolymerizing factor (ADF) and cofilin accelerate actin dynamics by severing and disassembling actin filaments. Here, we present the 3.8 A resolution cryo-EM structure of cofilactin (cofilin-decorated actin filament). The actin subunit structure of cofilactin (C-form) is distinct from those of F-actin (F-form) and monomeric actin (G-form). During the transition between these three conformations, the inner domain of actin (subdomains 3 and 4) and the majority of subdomain 1 move as two separate rigid bodies. The cofilin-actin interface consists of three distinct parts. Based on the rigid body movements of actin and the three cofilin-actin interfaces, we propose models for the cooperative binding of cofilin to actin, preferential binding of cofilin to ADP-bound actin filaments and cofilin-mediated severing of actin filaments.