Premium
Lessons from the enemy: what pathogens have taught us about the control of cytoskeletal dynamics
Author(s) -
Welch Matthew D.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.5.a37
Subject(s) - biology , actin , microbiology and biotechnology , cytoskeleton , actin cytoskeleton , cytoplasm , formins , internalization , actin remodeling , motility , cell , genetics
Numerous bacterial and viral pathogens exploit the host actin cytoskeleton to promote internalization into cells, replication within cells, and spread between cells during infection. By investigating the molecular mechanisms used by pathogens to manipulate the host cytoskeleton, we have gained important insights into the normal cellular regulation of actin dynamics. Our studies reveal that many pathogens have evolved a common molecular strategy for controlling actin assembly. This involves the production of proteins called nucleation promoting factors (NPFs) that directly activate the host Arp2/3 complex, an actin nucleating and organizing factor. Different pathogens use their NPFs in remarkably diverse ways. Some promote actin assembly in the cytoplasm to enable movement and spread between cells, whereas others promote nuclear actin assembly to facilitate replication and nuclear escape. The discovery of pathogen NPFs pointed to the existence of similar host molecules, which the pathogen proteins apparently evolved to mimic. We have found that these host NPFs function in normal cellular processes ranging from actin‐based motility to membrane trafficking. Therefore, studying the tricks of our microbial enemies should continue to reveal important principles of pathogenesis as well as important cell biological paradigms.