WHAMM
Domain
The N-terminal region associates with membranes, the coiled-coil region binds to microtubules and the WH2 domains promotes actin nucleation.
Function
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.
Tissue Specificity
Expressed in brain, lung, heart, colon and kidney (at protein level).
Cellular localization
- 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.
Alternative names
KIAA1971, WHDC1, WHAMM, WAS protein homology region 2 domain-containing protein 1, WH2 domain-containing protein 1