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Actin-depolymerizing protein Adf1 is required for formation and maintenance of the contractile ring during cytokinesis in fission yeast.

Nakano K, Mabuchi I.

Division of Biology, Department of Life Sciences, Graduate Program in Interdisciplinary Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan. knakano@biol.tsukuba.ac.jp

The role of the actin-depolymerizing factor (ADF)/cofilin-family protein Adf1 in cytokinesis of fission yeast cells was studied. Adf1 was required for accumulation of actin at the division site by depolymerizing actin at the cell ends, assembly of the contractile ring through severing actin filaments, and maintenance of the contractile ring once formed. Genetic and cytological analyses suggested that it collaborates with profilin and capping protein in the mitotic reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton. Furthermore, it was unexpectedly found that Adf1 and myosin-II also collaborate in assembling the contractile ring. Tropomyosin was shown to antagonize the function of Adf1 in the contractile ring. We propose that formation and maintenance of the contractile ring are achieved by a balanced collaboration of these proteins.

Publication Types:
PMID: 16467379 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

PMCID: PMC1415287