Home LiteratureArticle Details
PMID: 12049672 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Review

The ADF/cofilin family: actin-remodeling proteins.

Genome biology ·Vol. 3 ·No. 5 ·2002-00-00 ·Pages reviews3007

Maciver SK, Hussey PJ

Abstract

The ADF/cofilins are a family of actin-binding proteins expressed in all eukaryotic cells so far examined. Members of this family remodel the actin cytoskeleton, for example during cytokinesis, when the actin-rich contractile ring shrinks as it contracts through the interaction of ADF/cofilins with both monomeric and filamentous actin. The depolymerizing activity is twofold: ADF/cofilins sever actin filaments and also increase the rate at which monomers leave the filament's pointed end. The three-dimensional structure of ADF/cofilins is similar to a fold in members of the gelsolin family of actin-binding proteins in which this fold is typically repeated three or six times; although both families bind polyphosphoinositide lipids and actin in a pH-dependent manner, they share no obvious sequence similarity. Plants and animals have multiple ADF/cofilin genes, belonging in vertebrates to two types, ADF and cofilins. Other eukaryotes (such as yeast, Acanthamoeba and slime moulds) have a single ADF/cofilin gene. Phylogenetic analysis of the ADF/cofilins reveals that, with few exceptions, their relationships reflect conventional views of the relationships between the major groups of organisms.

MeSH Terms
Actin Depolymerizing Factors Actins/biosynthesis,chemistry,metabolism Animals Cofilin 2 Destrin Evolution, Molecular Exons/genetics Gene Expression Regulation/physiology Humans Introns/genetics Microfilament Proteins/biosynthesis,chemistry,genetics Multigene Family/genetics,physiology
Chemicals
Actin Depolymerizing Factors Actins CFL2 protein, human Cofilin 2 DSTN protein, human Destrin Microfilament Proteins
Authors & Affiliations
2 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Maciver Sutherland K
Genes and Development Interdisciplinary Group, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, Scotland, UK. SKM@srv4.med.ed.ac.uk
Hussey Patrick J
References (72)
72 references, click to expand
  1. Sequence of cDNAs encoding actin depolymerizing factor and cofilin of embryonic chicken skeletal muscle: two functionally distinct actin-regulatory proteins exhibit high structural homology.
    Biochemistry. 1990 Aug 14;29(32):7420-5 PMID: 1699599
  2. A short sequence responsible for both phosphoinositide binding and actin binding activities of cofilin.
    J Biol Chem. 1991 Sep 15;266(26):17218-21 PMID: 1654325
  3. Cofilin is an essential component of the yeast cortical cytoskeleton.
    J Cell Biol. 1993 Jan;120(2):421-35 PMID: 8421056
  4. Molecular cloning and characterization of anther-preferential cDNA encoding a putative actin-depolymerizing factor.
    Plant Mol Biol. 1993 Jan;21(1):39-45 PMID: 8425049
  5. Isolation of a yeast essential gene, COF1, that encodes a homologue of mammalian cofilin, a low-M(r) actin-binding and depolymerizing protein.
    Gene. 1993 Feb 14;124(1):115-20 PMID: 8440472
  6. Isolation and characterization of a regulated form of actin depolymerizing factor.
    J Cell Biol. 1993 Aug;122(3):623-33 PMID: 7687605
  7. Primary structure of and studies on Acanthamoeba actophorin.
    Biochemistry. 1993 Aug 24;32(33):8525-33 PMID: 8357799
  8. Human actin depolymerizing factor mediates a pH-sensitive destruction of actin filaments.
    Biochemistry. 1993 Sep 28;32(38):9985-93 PMID: 8399167
  9. Analysis of the interactions of actin depolymerizing factor with G- and F-actin.
    Biochemistry. 1993 Sep 28;32(38):9994-10004 PMID: 8399168
  10. Coactosin, a 17 kDa F-actin binding protein from Dictyostelium discoideum.
    Cell Motil Cytoskeleton. 1993;26(3):181-91 PMID: 8293475
  11. Identification of Drosophila cytoskeletal proteins by induction of abnormal cell shape in fission yeast.
    Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1994 May 10;91(10):4589-93 PMID: 8183953
  12. Characterization of a novel cofilin isoform that is predominantly expressed in mammalian skeletal muscle.
    J Biol Chem. 1994 May 27;269(21):15280-6 PMID: 8195165
  13. Actophorin preferentially binds monomeric ADP-actin over ATP-bound actin: consequences for cell locomotion.
    FEBS Lett. 1994 Jun 27;347(2-3):251-6 PMID: 8034013
  14. Concentration of cofilin, a small actin-binding protein, at the cleavage furrow during cytokinesis.
    Cell Motil Cytoskeleton. 1995;30(1):1-7 PMID: 7728864
  15. Identification, characterization, and intracellular distribution of cofilin in Dictyostelium discoideum.
    J Biol Chem. 1995 May 5;270(18):10923-32 PMID: 7738034
  16. Reactivation of phosphorylated actin depolymerizing factor and identification of the regulatory site.
    J Biol Chem. 1995 Jul 21;270(29):17582-7 PMID: 7615564
  17. Mutations in twinstar, a Drosophila gene encoding a cofilin/ADF homologue, result in defects in centrosome migration and cytokinesis.
    J Cell Biol. 1995 Dec;131(5):1243-59 PMID: 8522587
  18. Two actin binding proteins, actin depolymerizing factor and cofilin, are associated with Hirano bodies.
    Neuroreport. 1995 Oct 23;6(15):1985-8 PMID: 8580423
  19. Xenopus laevis actin-depolymerizing factor/cofilin: a phosphorylation-regulated protein essential for development.
    J Cell Biol. 1996 Mar;132(5):871-85 PMID: 8603919
  20. Overexpression of cofilin stimulates bundling of actin filaments, membrane ruffling, and cell movement in Dictyostelium.
    J Cell Biol. 1996 Feb;132(3):335-44 PMID: 8636212
  21. Tertiary structure of destrin and structural similarity between two actin-regulating protein families.
    Cell. 1996 Jun 28;85(7):1047-55 PMID: 8674111
  22. Pollen specific expression of maize genes encoding actin depolymerizing factor-like proteins.
    Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1996 Jul 9;93(14):7415-20 PMID: 8693008
  23. Identification and characterization of a low temperature regulated gene encoding an actin-binding protein from wheat.
    FEBS Lett. 1996 Jul 8;389(3):324-7 PMID: 8766725
  24. Mapping of human non-muscle type cofilin (CFL1) to chromosome 11q13 and muscle-type cofilin (CFL2) to chromosome 14.
    Ann Hum Genet. 1996 May;60(Pt 3):201-11 PMID: 8800436
  25. Large-scale sequencing in human chromosome 12p13: experimental and computational gene structure determination.
    Genome Res. 1997 Mar;7(3):268-80 PMID: 9074930
  26. Actin depolymerizing factor (ADF/cofilin) enhances the rate of filament turnover: implication in actin-based motility.
    J Cell Biol. 1997 Mar 24;136(6):1307-22 PMID: 9087445
  27. Structure determination of yeast cofilin.
    Nat Struct Biol. 1997 May;4(5):366-9 PMID: 9145106
  28. Crystal structure of the actin-binding protein actophorin from Acanthamoeba.
    Nat Struct Biol. 1997 May;4(5):369-73 PMID: 9145107
  29. Cofilin changes the twist of F-actin: implications for actin filament dynamics and cellular function.
    J Cell Biol. 1997 Aug 25;138(4):771-81 PMID: 9265645
  30. Cloning and characterization of actin depolymerizing factor from Toxoplasma gondii.
    Mol Biochem Parasitol. 1997 Sep;88(1-2):43-52 PMID: 9274866
  31. The maize actin-depolymerizing factor, ZmADF3, redistributes to the growing tip of elongating root hairs and can be induced to translocate into the nucleus with actin.
    Plant J. 1997 Nov;12(5):1035-43 PMID: 9418045
  32. Two Caenorhabditis elegans actin depolymerizing factor/cofilin proteins, encoded by the unc-60 gene, differentially regulate actin filament dynamics.
    J Biol Chem. 1998 Feb 6;273(6):3778-83 PMID: 9452511
  33. How ADF/cofilin depolymerizes actin filaments.
    Curr Opin Cell Biol. 1998 Feb;10(1):140-4 PMID: 9484606
  34. Ser6 in the maize actin-depolymerizing factor, ZmADF3, is phosphorylated by a calcium-stimulated protein kinase and is essential for the control of functional activity.
    Plant J. 1998 Apr;14(2):187-93 PMID: 9669865
  35. The ADF homology (ADF-H) domain: a highly exploited actin-binding module.
    Mol Biol Cell. 1998 Aug;9(8):1951-9 PMID: 9693358
  36. The effect of two actin depolymerizing factors (ADF/cofilins) on actin filament turnover: pH sensitivity of F-actin binding by human ADF, but not of Acanthamoeba actophorin.
    Eur J Biochem. 1998 Sep 1;256(2):388-97 PMID: 9760179
  37. Cooperation of two actin-binding proteins, cofilin and Aip1, in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
    Genes Cells. 1999 Jan;4(1):21-32 PMID: 10231390
  38. Purification and biochemical characterization of actin from Caenorhabditis elegans: its difference from rabbit muscle actin in the interaction with nematode ADF/cofilin.
    Cell Motil Cytoskeleton. 1999;43(2):128-36 PMID: 10379837
  39. ADF/cofilin weakens lateral contacts in the actin filament.
    J Mol Biol. 1999 Aug 20;291(3):513-9 PMID: 10448032
  40. The identification of a second cofilin binding site on actin suggests a novel, intercalated arrangement of F-actin binding.
    J Biol Chem. 1999 Oct 8;274(41):28893-9 PMID: 10506133
  41. Drebrin is a widespread actin-associating protein enriched at junctional plaques, defining a specific microfilament anchorage system in polar epithelial cells.
    Eur J Cell Biol. 1999 Nov;78(11):767-78 PMID: 10604653
  42. Proteins of the ADF/cofilin family: essential regulators of actin dynamics.
    Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol. 1999;15:185-230 PMID: 10611961
  43. Phosphorylation of Acanthamoeba actophorin (ADF/cofilin) blocks interaction with actin without a change in atomic structure.
    J Mol Biol. 2000 Jan 14;295(2):203-11 PMID: 10623520
  44. Uncoupling actin filament fragmentation by cofilin from increased subunit turnover.
    J Mol Biol. 2000 May 12;298(4):649-61 PMID: 10788327
  45. Molecular mechanisms controlling actin filament dynamics in nonmuscle cells.
    Annu Rev Biophys Biomol Struct. 2000;29:545-76 PMID: 10940259
  46. Neurodegenerative stimuli induce persistent ADF/cofilin-actin rods that disrupt distal neurite function.
    Nat Cell Biol. 2000 Sep;2(9):628-36 PMID: 10980704
  47. The competitive interaction of actin and PIP2 with actophorin is based on overlapping target sites: design of a gain-of-function mutant.
    Biochemistry. 2000 Oct 10;39(40):12181-9 PMID: 11015196
  48. A comparative structural analysis of the ADF/cofilin family.
    Proteins. 2000 Nov 15;41(3):374-84 PMID: 11025548
  49. Two closely related cDNAs encoding actin-depolymerizing factors of petunia are mainly expressed in vegetative tissues.
    Gene. 2000 Oct 31;257(2):167-76 PMID: 11080583
  50. Intracellular pH modulation of ADF/cofilin proteins.
    Cell Motil Cytoskeleton. 2000 Dec;47(4):319-36 PMID: 11093252
  51. The ADF/cofilin family: accelerators of actin reorganization.
    Results Probl Cell Differ. 2001;32:135-54 PMID: 11131828
  52. Interaction of pollen-specific actin-depolymerizing factor with actin.
    Plant J. 2001 Jan;25(2):203-12 PMID: 11169196
  53. The C-terminal tail of UNC-60B (actin depolymerizing factor/cofilin) is critical for maintaining its stable association with F-actin and is implicated in the second actin-binding site.
    J Biol Chem. 2001 Feb 23;276(8):5952-8 PMID: 11050090
  54. Cofilin/ADF is required for cell motility during Drosophila ovary development and oogenesis.
    Nat Cell Biol. 2001 Feb;3(2):204-9 PMID: 11175754
  55. Actin depolymerizing factor stabilizes an existing state of F-actin and can change the tilt of F-actin subunits.
    J Cell Biol. 2001 Apr 2;153(1):75-86 PMID: 11285275
  56. Cofilin phosphorylation by protein kinase testicular protein kinase 1 and its role in integrin-mediated actin reorganization and focal adhesion formation.
    Mol Biol Cell. 2001 Apr;12(4):1131-45 PMID: 11294912
  57. Molecular identification and characterization of the Arabidopsis AtADF1, AtADFS and AtADF6 genes.
    Plant Mol Biol. 2001 Mar;45(5):517-27 PMID: 11414611
  58. Phosphorylation of plant actin-depolymerising factor by calmodulin-like domain protein kinase.
    FEBS Lett. 2001 Jun 15;499(1-2):97-100 PMID: 11418120
  59. Characterization of human muscle type cofilin (CFL2) in normal and regenerating muscle.
    Eur J Biochem. 2001 Jun;268(12):3473-82 PMID: 11422377
  60. Cofilin phosphorylation and actin reorganization activities of testicular protein kinase 2 and its predominant expression in testicular Sertoli cells.
    J Biol Chem. 2001 Aug 17;276(33):31449-58 PMID: 11418599
  61. Purification from starfish eggs of a protein that depolymerizes actin.
    J Biochem. 1981 Apr;89(4):1341-4 PMID: 6894753
  62. Tropomyosin binding to F-actin protects the F-actin from disassembly by brain actin-depolymerizing factor (ADF).
    Cell Motil. 1982;2(1):1-8 PMID: 6890875
  63. Effects of muscle proteins on the interaction between actin and an actin-depolymerizing protein from starfish oocytes.
    J Biochem. 1982 Nov;92(5):1439-47 PMID: 7153209
  64. Evolutionary history of a multigene family: an expressed human beta-tubulin gene and three processed pseudogenes.
    Cell. 1983 Jun;33(2):477-87 PMID: 6688039
  65. An actin-depolymerizing protein (depactin) from starfish oocytes: properties and interaction with actin.
    J Cell Biol. 1983 Nov;97(5 Pt 1):1612-21 PMID: 6226671
  66. pH control of actin polymerization by cofilin.
    J Biol Chem. 1985 Nov 25;260(27):14410-2 PMID: 4055781
  67. Cofilin is a component of intranuclear and cytoplasmic actin rods induced in cultured cells.
    Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1987 Aug;84(15):5262-6 PMID: 3474653
  68. Distribution among tissues and intracellular localization of cofilin, a 21kDa actin-binding protein.
    Cell Struct Funct. 1987 Oct;12(5):443-52 PMID: 3315240
  69. Distribution and cellular localization of actin depolymerizing factor.
    J Cell Biol. 1987 Dec;105(6 Pt 1):2817-25 PMID: 3320057
  70. Amino acid sequence of starfish oocyte depactin.
    J Biol Chem. 1988 Mar 5;263(7):3097-102 PMID: 3422641
  71. Destrin, a mammalian actin-depolymerizing protein, is closely related to cofilin. Cloning and expression of porcine brain destrin cDNA.
    J Biol Chem. 1990 Apr 5;265(10):5768-73 PMID: 2156828
  72. Inhibition of the interactions of cofilin, destrin, and deoxyribonuclease I with actin by phosphoinositides.
    J Biol Chem. 1990 May 25;265(15):8382-6 PMID: 2160454
Article Info
Journal
Genome biology
Abbr.
Genome Biol
ISSN
1474-760X
DOI
10.1186/gb-2002-3-5-reviews3007
Email
skm@srv4.med.ed.ac.uk
Published
2002-00-00
Epub
2002-00-26
Pages
reviews3007
Language
English
Region
England
NLM ID
100960660
PMCID
PMC139363
Subset
IM
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1186/gb-2002-3-5-reviews3007 PMC Full Text View journal details
Analysis Services
Analysis Services

Contact

No. 2 Wenbo Road, Zhangqiu District, Jinan, Shandong

Qilu Normal University · Genelibs Bioinformatics Lab

750 Shunhua Rd, Jinan

2F, Bldg F, University Science Park

Tel: 0531-88819269

WeChat Official Account

Follow our WeChat subscription account for real-time updates and the latest in medical and biological research.


Business Email

E-mail: product@genelibs.com

Copyright © 2026.Genelibs Jinan Honghui Biotechnology Co., Ltd. 鲁ICP备20007159号-2