Cofilin phosphorylation is elevated after F-actin disassembly induced by Rac1 depletion

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

Cytoskeletal reorganization is essential to keratinocyte function. Rac1 regulates cytoskeletal reorganization through signaling pathways such as the cofilin cascade. Cofilin severs actin filaments after activation by dephosphorylation. Rac1 was knocked out in mouse keratinocytes and it was found that actin filaments disassembled. In the epidermis of mice in which Rac1 was knocked out only in keratinocytes, cofilin phosphorylation was aberrantly elevated, corresponding to repression of the phosphatase slingshot1 (SSH1). These effects were independent of the signaling pathways for p21-activated kinase/LIM kinase (Pak/LIMK), protein kinase C, or protein kinase D or generation of reactive oxygen species. Similarly, when actin polymerization was specifically inhibited or Rac1 was knocked down, cofilin phosphorylation was enhanced and SSH1 was repressed. Repression of SSH1 partially blocked actin depolymerization induced by Rac1 depletion. Therefore, aberrant cofilin phosphorylation that induces actin polymerization might be a consequence of actin disassembly induced by the absence of Rac1.

Original languageEnglish
JournalBioFactors (Oxford, England)
Volume41
Issue number5
Pages (from-to)352-9
Number of pages8
ISSN0951-6433
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 27 Oct 2015

    Research areas

  • Actin Depolymerizing Factors, Actins, Animals, Cells, Cultured, Keratinocytes, Mice, Phosphorylation, Reactive Oxygen Species, Signal Transduction, rac1 GTP-Binding Protein, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

ID: 169564850