ActA and human zyxin harbour Arp2/3-independent actin-polymerization activity.

The actin cytoskeleton is a dynamic network that is composed of a variety of F-actin structures. To understand how these structures are produced, we tested the capacity of proteins to direct actin polymerization in a bead assay in vitro and in a mitochondrial-targeting assay in cells. We found that human zyxin and the related protein ActA of Listeria monocytogenes can generate new actin structures in a vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein-dependent (VASP) manner, but independently of the Arp2/3 complex. These results are consistent with the concept that there are multiple actin-polymerization machines in cells. With these simple tests it is possible to probe the specific function of proteins or identify novel molecules that act upon cellular actin polymerization.

Targeting of zyxin to sites of actin membrane interaction and to the nucleus.

The localization of proteins to particular intracellular compartments often regulates their functions. Zyxin is a LIM protein found prominently at sites of cell adhesion, faintly in leading lamellipodia, and transiently in cell nuclei. Here we have performed a domain analysis to identify regions in zyxin that are responsible for targeting it to different subcellular locations. The N-terminal proline-rich region of zyxin, which harbors binding sites for alpha-actinin and members of the Ena/VASP family, concentrates in lamellipodial extensions and weakly in focal adhesions. The LIM region of zyxin displays robust targeting to focal adhesions. When overexpressed in cells, the LIM region of zyxin causes displacement of endogenous zyxin from focal adhesions. Upon mislocalization of full-length zyxin, at least one member of the Ena/VASP family is also displaced, and the organization of the actin cytoskeleton is perturbed. Zyxin also has the capacity to shuttle between the nucleus and focal adhesion sites. When nuclear export is inhibited, zyxin accumulates in cell nuclei. The nuclear accumulation of zyxin occurs asynchronously with approximately half of the cells exhibiting nuclear localization of zyxin within 2.3 h of initiating leptomycin B treatment. Our results provide insight into the functions of different zyxin domains.

Characterization of the interaction between zyxin and members of the Ena/vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein family of proteins.

Zyxin contains a proline-rich N-terminal domain that is similar to the C-terminal domain in the ActA protein of the bacteria, Listeria monocytogenes. We screened the entire amino acid sequence of human zyxin for Mena-interacting peptides and found that, as with ActA, proline-rich sequences were the sole zyxin sequences capable of binding to Ena/vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) family members in vitro. From this information, we tested zyxin mutants in which the proline-rich sequences were altered. The reduction in Mena/VASP binding was confirmed by peptide tests, immunoprecipitation, and ectopic expression of zyxin variants at the surface of mitochondria. By transfection assays we showed that zyxin interaction with Mena/VASP in vivo enhances the production of actin-rich structures at the apical surface of cells. Microinjection into cells of peptides corresponding to the first proline-rich sequence of zyxin caused the loss of Mena/VASP from focal contacts. Furthermore, these peptides reduced the degree of spreading of cells replated after trypsinization. We conclude that zyxin and proteins that harbor similar proline-rich repeats contribute to the positioning of Mena/VASP proteins. The positioning of Ena/VASP family members appears to be important when the actin cytoskeleton is reorganized, such as during spreading.

LPP, an actin cytoskeleton protein related to zyxin, harbors a nuclear export signal and transcriptional activation capacity.

The LPP gene is the preferred translocation partner of the HMGIC gene in a subclass of human benign mesenchymal tumors known as lipomas. Here we have characterized the LPP gene product that shares 41% of sequence identity with the focal adhesion protein zyxin. LPP localizes in focal adhesions as well as in cell-to-cell contacts, and it binds VASP, a protein implicated in the control of actin organization. In addition, LPP accumulates in the nucleus of cells upon treatment with leptomycin B, an inhibitor of the export factor CRM1. The nuclear export of LPP depends on an N-terminally located leucine-rich sequence that shares sequence homology with well-defined nuclear export signals. Moreover, LPP displays transcriptional activation capacity, as measured by GAL4-based assays. Altogether, these results show that the LPP protein has multifunctional domains and may serve as a scaffold upon which distinct protein complexes are assembled in the cytoplasm and in the nucleus.

Quantitative measurement of proteins by western blotting with Cy5-coupled secondary antibodies.

The concentration of proteins in cells is an important parameter that determines how a protein will interact with other proteins or pharmacological agents. Recent developments in Western blotting techniques have now made this a method of choice to measure protein concentration in complex solutions such as total cell extracts. We show that detection of Cy5-coupled secondary antibodies by PhosphorImager analysis produces signals that approach linearity with respect to protein concentration over a 20-fold range. We used this technique to estimate cellular levels of zyxin, which is an important protein component of the actin cytoskeleton in mammalian cells. By producing specific protein standards based on sequences that are available from public databases, it is now possible to estimate the concentration of almost any protein by this technique.