The nuclear F-actin interactome of Xenopus oocytes reveals an actin-bundling kinesin that is essential for meiotic cytokinesis

Analysis of nuclear actin by overexpression of wild-type and actin mutant proteins

Compared to the cytoplasmic F-actin abundance in cells, nuclear F-actin levels are generally quite low. However, nuclear actin is present in certain cell types including oocytes and under certain cellular conditions including stress or serum stimulation. Currently, the architecture and polymerization status of nuclear actin networks has not been analyzed in great detail. In this study, we investigated the architecture and functions of such nuclear actin networks. We generated nuclear actin polymers by overexpression of actin proteins fused to a nuclear localization signal (NLS). Raising nuclear abundance of a NLS wild-type actin, we observed phalloidin- and LifeAct-positive actin bundles forming a nuclear cytoskeletal network consisting of curved F-actin. In contrast, a polymer-stabilizing actin mutant (NLS-G15S-actin) deficient in interacting with the actin-binding protein cofilin generated a nuclear actin network reminiscent of straight stress fiber-like microfilaments in the cytoplasm. We provide a first electron microscopic description of such nuclear actin polymers suggesting bundling of actin filaments. Employing different cell types from various species including neurons, we show that the morphology of and potential to generate nuclear actin are conserved. Finally, we demonstrate that nuclear actin affects cell function including morphology, serum response factor-mediated gene expression, and herpes simplex virus infection. Our data suggest that actin is able to form filamentous structures inside the nucleus, which share architectural and functional similarities with the cytoplasmic F-actin.

To be or not to be assembled: progressing into nuclear actin filaments

The paradigm states that cytoplasmic actin operates as filaments and nuclear actin is mainly monomeric, acting as a scaffold in transcription complexes. However, why should a powerful function of actin, namely polymerization, not be used in the nucleus? Recent progress in the field forces us to rethink this issue, as many actin filament assembly proteins have been linked to nuclear functions and new experimental approaches have provided the first direct visualizations of polymerized nuclear actin.