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J. Cell Biol.,
Volume 142, Number 5, September 7, 1998 1289-1299
Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720-3202
Actin with a Val 159 to Asn mutation
(V159N) forms actin filaments that depolymerize
slowly because of a failure to undergo a conformational
change after inorganic phosphate release. Here we
demonstrate that expression of this actin results in reduced actin dynamics in vivo, and we make use of this
property to study the roles of rapid actin filament turnover. Yeast strains expressing the V159N mutant (act1-159) as their only source of actin have larger cortical actin patches and more actin cables than wild-type yeast.
Rapid actin dynamics are not essential for cortical actin patch motility or establishment of cell polarity. However, fluid phase endocytosis is defective in act1-159
strains. act1-159 is synthetically lethal with cofilin and
profilin mutants, supporting the conclusion that mutations in all of these genes impair the polymerization/
depolymerization cycle. In contrast, act1-159 partially
suppresses the temperature sensitivity of a tropomyosin mutant, and the loss of cytoplasmic cables seen in fimbrin, Mdm20p, and tropomyosin null mutants, suggesting filament stabilizing functions for these actin-binding
proteins. Analysis of the cables in these double-mutant
cells supports a role for fimbrin in organizing cytoplasmic cables and for Mdm20p and tropomyosin in excluding cofilin from the cables.
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