Palladin Nucleates Actin Assembly and Regulates Cytoskeleton Architecture

Abstract

The actin scaffold protein palladin regulates both normal cell migration and invasive cell motility, processes that require the coordinated regulation of actin dynamics. Palladin localizes to actin-rich protrusions and has a well-documented effect on metastasis of invasive cancers. However, its potential effects on actin dynamics have remained elusive. Here, we show that the C-terminal immunoglobulin-like domain of palladin (Ig3) that is directly responsible for actin binding and bundling also potently nucleates the formation of actin filaments in vitro.