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New insights into the regulation and cellular functions of the ARP2/3 complex

Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology volume 14, pages 7–12 (2013)Cite this article

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Abstract

The actin-related protein 2/3 (ARP2/3) complex nucleates branched actin filament networks, but requires nucleation promoting factors (NPFs) to stimulate this activity. NPFs include proteins such as Wiskott–Aldrich syndrome protein (WASP), neural WASP (NWASP), WASP family verprolin-homologous protein (WAVE; also known as SCAR) and the recently identified WASP and SCAR homologue (WASH) complex. The mechanisms underlying NPF-dependent regulation and the cellular functions of ARP2/3 are being unravelled using new chemical and genetic approaches. Of particular interest is the role of the ARP2/3 complex in vesicular trafficking and directional cell motility.

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Figure 1: Activation of NPFs by various stimuli.
Figure 2: Cellular functions of ARP2/3.

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Acknowledgements

The authors apologize to their colleagues whose work could not be cited owing to space limitations. They thank E. Haynes for assistance with figure conception and illustration. Work in the laboratory of J.E.B was supported by funds from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) and the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) (GM083035).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Jeremy D. Rotty, Congying Wu and James E. Bear are at the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA; and at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.,

    Jeremy D. Rotty, Congying Wu & James E. Bear

  2. and at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.,

    Jeremy D. Rotty, Congying Wu & James E. Bear

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  1. Jeremy D. Rotty
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Correspondence to James E. Bear.

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Rotty, J., Wu, C. & Bear, J. New insights into the regulation and cellular functions of the ARP2/3 complex. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 14, 7–12 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrm3492

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