Activation of Arp2/3 Complex by Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein Is Linked to Enhanced Binding of ATP to Arp2
In response to signaling, the Arp2/3 complex (actin-related proteins 2 and 3 complex) is activated by binding the C-terminal (WA) domain of proteins of the Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome family to promote the formation of a branched actin filament array, responsible for cell protrusion. The Arp2/3 complex exists in different structural/functional states: the inactive Arp2/3, the activated WA·Arp2/3 complex, the ternary G-actin·WA·Arp2/3 complex, which branches the filaments. This work addresses the role of ATP binding in Arp2/3 function. Using photo-cross-linking, hydrodynamic, and fluorescence techniques, we show that in the inactive Arp2/3 complex only one rapidly exchangeable ATP is tightly bound to Arp3 with an affinity of 108m−1. Upon activation of the Arp2/3 complex by WA, ATP binds to Arp2 with high affinity (107m−1), implying that a large structural change of Arp2 is linked to Arp2/3 activation. ATP is rapidly exchangeable on Arp2 and Arp3 in WA·Arp2/3 and G-actin·WA·Arp2/3 complexes. ATP is not hydrolyzed in inactive Arp2/3, in WA·Arp2/3, nor in G-actin·WA·Arp2/3. Arp2 has a greater specificity than Arp3 for ATPversusATP analogs. Using functional assays of actin polymerization in branched filaments, we show that binding of ATP to Arp2 is required for filament branching.