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Publication Abstract from PubMed

RNA interference has tremendously advanced our understanding of gene function but recent reports have exposed undesirable side-effects. Recombinant Camelid single-domain antibodies (VHHs) provide an attractive means for studying protein function without affecting gene expression. We raised VHHs against gelsolin (GsnVHHs), a multifunctional actin-binding protein that controls cellular actin organization and migration. GsnVHH-induced delocalization of gelsolin to mitochondria or the nucleus in mammalian cells reveals distinct subpopulations including free gelsolin and actin-bound gelsolin complexes. GsnVHH 13 specifically recognizes Ca(2+)-activated gelsolin (K (d) approximately 10 nM) while GsnVHH 11 binds gelsolin irrespective of Ca(2+) (K (d) approximately 5 nM) but completely blocks its interaction with G-actin. Both GsnVHHs trace gelsolin in membrane ruffles of EGF-stimulated MCF-7 cells and delay cell migration without affecting F-actin severing/capping or actin nucleation activities by gelsolin. We conclude that VHHs represent a potent way of blocking structural proteins and that actin nucleation by gelsolin is more complex than previously anticipated.

A llama-derived gelsolin single-domain antibody blocks gelsolin-G-actin interaction.,Van den Abbeele A, De Clercq S, De Ganck A, De Corte V, Van Loo B, Soror SH, Srinivasan V, Steyaert J, Vandekerckhove J, Gettemans J Cell Mol Life Sci. 2010 May;67(9):1519-35. Epub 2010 Feb 7. PMID:20140750^[1]

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.