Letter abstract


Nature Cell Biology 7, 619 - 625 (2005)
Published online: 22 May 2005 | doi:10.1038/ncb1266

The Diaphanous-related formin dDia2 is required for the formation and maintenance of filopodia

Antje Schirenbeck1, Till Bretschneider2, Rajesh Arasada1, Michael Schleicher1 & Jan Faix1,3

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Formins have important roles in the nucleation of actin and the formation of linear actin filaments, but their role in filopodium formation has remained elusive. Dictyostelium discoideum Diaphanous-related formin dDia2 is enriched at the tips of filopodia and interacts with profilin II and Rac1. An FH1FH2 fragment of dDia2 nucleated actin polymerization and removed capping protein from capped filament ends. Genetic studies showed that dDia2 is important for cell migration as well as the formation, elongation and maintenance of filopodia. Here we provide evidence that dDia2 specifically controls filopodial dynamics by regulating actin turnover at the barbed ends of actin filaments.

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  1. A. Butenandt-Institut/Zellbiologie, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Schillerstr. 42, 80336 München, Germany.
  2. AG Zelldynamik, Max-Planck-Institut für Biochemie, Am Klopferspitz 18a, 82152 Martinsried, Germany.
  3. Present address: Institut für Biophysikalische Chemie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, 30623 Hannover, Germany.

Correspondence to: Jan Faix1,3 e-mail: faix@bpc.mh-hannover.de



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