The Eukaryote Linear Motif resource for Functional Sites in Proteins
LIG_Actin_WH2_1 311
 
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Functional site class: Actin-binding motifs
Functional site description: The function of actin in the cell is regulated in a variety of ways, including interactions with the RPEL motifs and WH2 motifs, which bind to actin's hydrophobic cleft formed by its subdomains 1 and 3.
RPEL motifs, unstructured in solution, form two helices linked by a loop upon binding. They are known to sequester MRTF transcription factors in the cytosol. RPEL-containing proteins have been found in metazoans, as well as in fungi.
WH2 motifs are present in many eukaryotic organisms, including metazoa, plants and fungi. The structure of the motif comprises a short N-terminal helix of a variable length followed by an irregular region. It acts via interactions with G-actin, thus promoting or inhibiting the filament assembly. In some proteins WH2 motifs are also involved in regulation of the filament nucleation process. The differences in the functioning of various WH2-containing proteins may result from motif variants, which in several cases are not fully consistent with the assumed conservation pattern.
ELMs: LIG_Actin_RPEL_3 LIG_Actin_WH2_1 LIG_Actin_WH2_2
Description: WH2 is a bipartite motif consisting of a short &alpha;-helix at its N-terminus followed by a disordered region. The most important amino acids determining the motif's ability to interact with actin are leucine and lysine (often substituted by arginine) in positions -4 and -3 from the motif C-terminus, respectively. The N-terminal helix is rich in hydrophobic amino acids enabling it to fit into the cleft formed by actin's subdomains 1 and 3. The helix contains a fragment of variable length (4-7 residues) that enables another helix turn to be included. It is followed by a loop, comprising the critical leucine and lysine/arginine residues interacting directly with the actin molecule.
In several cases the C-terminal region is longer and contains residues forming a conserved pattern .T.[DE]...P which is putatively stabilizing WH2- actin interactions. This extension of the motif, not included in the ELM regular expression occurs in beta-thymosins- a group of proteins composed of WH2 domains only. For proper functioning they require an additional K/R residue at the C-terminus. They also contain a phenylalanine in position -5, conserved exclusively within this protein family. However, the level of conservation in these positions is too low to consider them an integral part of the motif.
WH2 motif is present in many proteins in various eukaryotes. It is possible to find several sequence variants, which differ from the assumed conservation pattern. In some proteins there are single cases of e.g. K/R substituted by T or N, yet their role and putative impact on actin binding remains unclear.
The WH2 motifs were divided into two groups. This motif version contains an arginine in position 1 and a conserved hydrophobic residue in position 3, which are likely to increase the motif binding specificity.
Pattern: [R]..[ILVMF][ILMVF][^P][^P][ILVM].{4,7}L(([KR].)|(NK))[VATI] (Probability: 0.0000022)
Present in taxons: Eukaryota
Interaction Domain:

Actin (PF00022)
Actin
(Stochiometry: 1 : 1)

o See 6 Instances for LIG_Actin_WH2_1


o Abstract

Actin is a core structural component of the cytoskeleton, which owing to its ability to contract, polymerize and interact with a wide range of proteins influences many cellular functions such as the control of cell shape, motility, and polarity, as well as cellular transport. Both formation of filaments, and actin's action as a molecular switch can be regulated by a variety of factors, including interactions with specific motifs, which mediate actin-protein interactions by binding to actin's hydrophobic cleft formed by subdomains 1 and 3.
RPEL motifs and WH2 motifs are present in a wide range of proteins and bind actin monomers in a hydrophobic cleft. Although the invariant amino acids that are essential to binding vary (arginine in RPEL and leucine in WH2, respectively), both motifs have a preference for peripheral hydrophobic amino acids (mostly leucines and isoleucines) to stabilize the interactions.
The RPEL motif is unstructured in solution and forms two helices linked by a short loop upon actin binding. The WH2 motif forms a short helix followed by an irregular region, which stabilizes upon actin binding. In both cases the residues essential for binding lie within the unstructured loop.
The function of RPEL motifs was best characterized in MRTF-A and MRTF-B proteins known to interact with serum response factor transcription factor and thus activate the transcription. There, RPEL-mediated G-actin binding (regulated by Rho-signalling controlled actin polymerization) causes the protein's retention in the cytoplasm by blocking the NLS and thus prevents the formation of the MRTF-SRF transcription- activating complex.
The WH2 motif, present in a variety of proteins, functions as a regulator of actin dynamics. In beta-thymosins and WASP, binding to actin inhibits its polymerization, while in ciboulot and the WAVE1/Scar family it promotes actin filament assembly. Furthermore, in WASP the WH2 motif also prevents actin filaments from spontaneous nucleation. The WH2 motifs were also found in the Phosphatase and actin regulator protein PHAR but there their function remains unclear.
Although the sequences of the motifs are distinct, they bind in the same actin region (a cleft formed by subdomains 1 and 3). RPEL- and WH2- mediated actin- binding appears to be affecting a variety of significant cellular processes and seems to be essential for proper cell functioning.

o 7 selected references:

o 6 GO-Terms:

o 6 Instances for LIG_Actin_WH2_1
(click table headers for sorting)
SequenceStartEndSubsequence
Instance LogicPDB Organism
VRP1_YEAST 31 47 GRDALLGDIRKGMKLKKAET true positive --- Saccharomyces cerevisiae S288c
SPIR_DROME 464 480 PREQLMESIRKGKELKQITP true positive 3MN5
3MN7
 Drosophila melanogaster (Fruit fly)
WASP_HUMAN 431 447 GRGALLDQIRQGIQLNKTPG true positive 2A3Z
 Homo sapiens (Human)
WASF1_HUMAN 498 514 ARSVLLEAIRKGIQLRKVEE true positive --- Homo sapiens (Human)
WIPF1_HUMAN 33 49 GRNALLSDISKGKKLKKTVT true positive 2A41
 Homo sapiens (Human)
WASF2_HUMAN 437 453 ARSDLLSAIRQGFQLRRVEE true positive 2A40
 Homo sapiens (Human)

Please cite: ELM - the database of eukaryotic linear motifs (PMID:22110040)

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