WHAMM

The N-terminal region associates with membranes, the coiled-coil region binds to microtubules and the WH2 domains promotes actin nucleation.

Acts as a nucleation-promoting factor (NPF) that stimulates Arp2/3-mediated actin polymerization both at the Golgi apparatus and along tubular membranes. Its activity in membrane tubulation requires F-actin and interaction with microtubules. Proposed to use coordinated actin-nucleating and microtubule-binding activities of distinct WHAMM molecules to drive membrane tubule elongation; when MT-bound can recruit and remodel membrane vesicles but is prevented to activate the Arp2/3 complex. Involved as a regulator of Golgi positioning and morphology. Participates in vesicle transport between the reticulum endoplasmic and the Golgi complex. Required for RhoD-dependent actin reorganization such as in cell adhesion and cell migration.

Expressed in brain, lung, heart, colon and kidney (at protein level).

• Cytoplasm
• Endoplasmic reticulum-Golgi intermediate compartment
• Cytoplasmic vesicle membrane
• Golgi apparatus
• cis-Golgi network
• Localized to a perinuclear compartment near the microtubule-organizing center (MTOC). Also detected on tubulo-vesicular structures in the cell periphery that frequently localized along microtubules.

KIAA1971, WHDC1, WHAMM, WAS protein homology region 2 domain-containing protein 1, WH2 domain-containing protein 1

• entrezGene:123720
• omim:612393
• swissprot:Q8TF30

Proteins

90924Da