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Loss of function of ZIC3 causes heterotaxy (OMIM #306955), a disorder characterized by organ laterality defects including complex heart defects. Studies using Zic3 mutant mice have demonstrated that loss of Zic3 causes heterotaxy due to defects in establishment of left–right (LR) signaling, but the mechanistic basis for these defects remains unknown. Here, we demonstrate Zic3 null mice undergo cilia positioning defects at the embryonic node consistent with impaired planar cell polarity (PCP). Cell-based assays demonstrate that ZIC3 must enter the nucleus to regulate PCP and identify multiple critical ZIC3 domains required for regulation of PCP signaling. Furthermore, we show that Zic3 displays a genetic interaction with the PCP membrane protein Vangl2 and the PCP effector genes Rac1 and Daam1 resulting in increased frequency and severity of neural tube and heart defects. Gene and protein expression analyses indicate that Zic3 null embryos display disrupted expression of PCP components and reduced phosphorylation of the core PCP protein DVL2 at the time of LR axis determination. These results demonstrate that ZIC3 interacts with PCP signaling during early development, identifying a novel role for this transcription factor, and adding additional evidence about the importance of PCP function for normal LR patterning and subsequent heart development.

Cancer cell migration plays a crucial role during the metastatic process. Reversible tyrosine phosphorylation by protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) and protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) have been implicated in the regulation of cancer cell migration and invasion. However, the underlying mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. Here, we show that depletion of the FERM and PDZ domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase PTPN3 enhances lung cancer cell migration/invasion and metastasis by promoting actin filament assembly and focal adhesion dynamics. We further identified Src and DAAM1 (dishevelled associated activator of morphogenesis 1) as interactors of PTPN3. DAAM1 is a formin-like protein involved in the regulation of actin cytoskeletal remodeling. PTPN3 inhibits Src activity and Src-mediated phosphorylation of Tyr652 on DAAM1. The tyrosine phosphorylation of DAAM1 is essential for DAAM1 homodimer formation and actin polymerization. Ectopic expression of a DAAM1 phosphodeficient mutant inhibited F-actin assembly and suppressed lung cancer cell migration and invasion. Our findings reveal a novel mechanism by which reversible tyrosine phosphorylation of DAAM1 by Src and PTPN3 regulates actin dynamics and lung cancer invasiveness.

During mouse oocyte meiotic maturation, actin filaments play multiple roles in meiosis such as spindle migration and cytokinesis. FASCIN is shown to be an actin-binding and bundling protein, making actin filaments tightly packed and parallel-aligned, and FASCIN is involved in several cellular processes like adhesion and migration. FASCIN is also a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for the treatment of metastatic disease. However, little is known about the functions of FASCIN in oocyte meiosis. In the present study, we knocked down the expression of FASCIN, and our results showed that FASCIN was essential for oocyte maturation. FASCIN was all expressed in the different stages of oocyte meiosis, and it mainly localized at the cortex of oocytes from the GV stage to the MII stage and showed a similar localization pattern with actin and DAAM1. Depletion of FASCIN affected the extrusion of the first polar body, and we also observed that some oocytes extruded from the large polar bodies. This might have resulted from the defects of actin assembly, which further affected the meiotic spindle positioning. In addition, we showed that inhibition of PKC activity decreased FASCIN expression, indicating that FASCIN might be regulated by PKC. Taken together, our results provided evidence for the important role of FASCIN on actin filaments for spindle migration and polar body extrusion in mouse oocyte meiosis.

Disheveled-associated activator of morphogenesis (DAAM) family, including DAAM1 and DAAM2, is key regulators in Wnt signaling pathway. Although the oncogenic role of Wnt signaling pathway in colorectal cancer (CRC) was investigated in several lines, the expression and function of DAAM in CRC are still obscure. To investigate the expression and function of DAAM in CRC. DAAM1 and DAAM2 expression in high grade dysplasia (HGD), CRCs and corresponding adjacent tissues were detected with qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry (IHC). The prognostic significance of DAAM1/2 were estimated with univariate and multivariate analyses. Moreover, the correlations between clinicopathological factors and DAAM were evaluated with the χ2 test. With experiments in vitro, we investigated the function of DAAM2 in CRC cell proliferation and invasion, and investigated the underlying mechanism of how DAAM2 facilitated CRC invasion. DAAM2, instead of DAAM1, was substantially up-regulated in CRCs compared with paired adjacent normal tissues and HGDs. The ratio of high DAAM1 and DAAM2 expression accounted for 44.83% and 46.31%, respectively. High DAAM2, instead of DAAM1, was a risk factor indicating an unfavorable prognosis of CRC. In multivariate analysis, high DAAM2 was identified as an independent prognostic biomarker of CRC predicting poor prognosis. With experiments in vitro, DAAM2 promoted invasion of CRC cells via activating PAK1 and promoting the expression of MMP7, suggesting an essential role of DAAM2 in CRC invasion. High expression of DAAM2, instead of DAAM1, indicated an unfavorable prognosis of CRC independently, which suggested that detecting DAAM2 can help define the high-risk patients. DAAM2 activated PAK1 and promoted MMP7 expression and facilitated the invasion of CRC cells, indicating that DAAM2 may be a potential drug target of CRC.

Background Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) small nucleolar RNA host gene 15 (SNHG15) has been discovered and demonstrated to have significant function in multiple cancers. Nevertheless, how it participates in the progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and its potential regulatory system are still unclear. Methods RT-qPCR detected the expression of SNHG15, miR-188-5p, and DAAM1. RNA pull down, RT-qPCR, and bioinformatics were used for finding and selecting downstream targets of SNHG15. Results SNHG15 presented a high expression in OSCC cells. Moreover, inhibition of SNHG15 exhibited repressive influence on proliferative, migrated, and invasive abilities but induce apoptosis of OSCC cells. Through the search of bioinformatics and RNA pull down assays, we confirmed that miR-188-5p was one target of SNHG15 in OSCC cells. Additionally, miR-188-5p could hamper the growth of OSCC cells. Moreover, it was manifested that DAAM1 was down-regulated by miR-188-5p. DAAM1 was up-regulated in OSCC cells. Furthermore, it exerted oncogenic function in the course of OSCC. Eventually, overexpression of DAAM1 offsets the effects of down-regulation of SNHG15 on the development of OSCC. Conclusion To summarize, our study certified that SNHG15 contributed to the process of OSCC via sponging miR-188-5p to elevate DAAM1 expression. SNHG15 might offer novel sight to improve the results of treatment for OSCC.

Objectives Cancer cell migration to secondary organs remains an essential cause of death among breast cancer (BrCa) patients. Cell motility mainly relies on actin dynamics. Our previous reports verified that dishevelled‐associated activator of morphogenesis 1 (Daam1) regulates invadopodia extension and BrCa cell motility. However, how Daam1 is involved in actin filament assembly and promotes pseudopodia formation in BrCa cells remains unclear. Materials and methods One hundred human BrCa samples were collected at Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to examine Daam1 and Fascin expression. Wound healing and Boyden chamber assays were used to explore cell migration and pseudopodia extension of BrCa cells. Co‐IP/pull down and Western blotting were performed to study the physical interaction between Daam1 and Fascin. Immunofluorescence assays were performed to observe whether Daam1 and Fascin were colocalized and mediated actin filament assembly. Results Fascin was upregulated in BrCa tissues compared with that in paracarcinoma tissues. The downregulation of Fascin caused a decline in pseudopodia formation and cell motility. Moreover, we found that Daam1 interacted with Fascin via formin homology (FH) domains, especially the FH2 domain. Immunofluorescence assays showed that Daam1 and Fascin partially colocalized to actin filaments, and the knockdown of Daam1 or Fascin failed to colocalize to short and curved actin filaments. Conclusions Daam1 specifically binds to Fascin via FH domains and cooperatively facilitates pseudopodia formation and cell migration by promoting actin filament assembly in BrCa., Daam1 notably collaborates with Fascin to promote the assembly of actin filament, pseudopodia extension and cell migration.

Herein, for the first time, the potential relationships between the cytoskeleton-associated proteins DAAM1 and PREP with different testicular disorders, such as classic seminoma (CS), Leydig cell tumor (LCT), and Sertoli cell-only syndrome (SOS), were evaluated. Six CS, two LCT, and two SOS tissue samples were obtained during inguinal exploration in patients with a suspect testis tumor based on clinical examination and ultrasonography. DAAM1 and PREP protein levels and immunofluorescent localization were analyzed. An increased DAAM1 protein level in CS and SOS as compared to non-pathological (NP) tissue was observed, while LCT showed no significant differences. Conversely, PREP protein level increased in LCT, while it decreased in CS and SOS compared to NP tissue. These results were strongly supported by the immunofluorescence staining, revealing an altered localization and signal intensity of DAAM1 and PREP in the analyzed samples, highlighting a perturbed cytoarchitecture. Interestingly, in LCT spermatogonia, a specific DAAM1 nuclear localization was found, probably due to an enhanced testosterone production, as confirmed by the increased protein levels of steroidogenic enzymes. Finally, although further studies are needed to verify the involvement of other formins and microtubule-associated proteins, this report raised the opportunity to indicate DAAM1 and PREP as new potential markers, supporting the cytoskeleton dynamics changes occurring during normal and/or pathological cell differentiation.

BACKGROUND The dishevelled associated activator of morphogenesis (DAAM) family, consisting of DAAM1 and DAAM2, is an important component of the Wnt signal pathway. Previous studies have suggested that DAAM2 reduces Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) expression by promoting its ubiquitination, but the correlation between DAAM and HIF-1alpha in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not been studied. MATERIAL AND METHODS In our study, expression of DAAM1 and DAAM2 in HCCs and tumor-adjacent liver tissues was assessed with qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. Correlations between DAAM1/2 and the clinicopathologic variables were evaluated with the Chi-square test. With univariate and multivariate analysis, we further evaluated the prognostic significance of DAAM1 and DAAM2. Using in vitro experiments, we assessed the functions of DAAM1 and DAAM2 in invasion and proliferation in different HCC cell lines and investigated their underlying mechanisms. RESULTS DAAM1 and 2 overexpression were 18.8% and 48.7%, respectively, of the whole cohort. mRNAs of DAAM2 in HCCs were substantially higher than mRNAs in liver tissues, while DAAM1 mRNA had no marked difference. High DAAM2 expression was notably associated with advanced T stage (P=0.032), TNM stage (P=0.032), and overall survival (OS) rate (P=0.004). DAAM 2 knockdown promoted VHL accumulation and subsequent HIF-1alpha down-regulation in HCC cells. In HCC specimens, DAAM2 expression was also negatively correlated with VHL and positively associated with HIF-1alpha. Moreover, HIF-1alpha was required in DAAM2-induced invasion of HCC cells. CONCLUSIONS DAAM2, rather than DAAM1, was able to predict prognosis of HCC. DAAM2 decreased VHL expression and consequently upregulated HIF-1alpha, eventually facilitating invasion of HCC.

The actin cytoskeleton plays a central role in establishing cell polarity and shape during embryonic morphogenesis. Daam1, a member of the Formin family of actin cytoskeleton regulators, is a Dvl2-binding protein that functions in the Wnt/Planar Cell Polarity (PCP) pathway. To examine the role of the Daam proteins in mammalian development, we generated Daam-deficient mice by gene targeting and found that Daam1, but not Daam2, is necessary for fetal survival. Embryonic development of Daam1 mutants was delayed most likely due to functional defects in the labyrinthine layer of the placenta. Examination of Daam2 and Daam1/2 double mutants revealed that Daam1 and Daam2 are functionally redundant during placental development. Of note, neural tube closure defects (NTD), which are observed in several mammalian PCP mutants, are not observed in Wnt5a or Daam1 single mutants, but arise in Daam1;Wnt5a double mutants. These findings demonstrate a unique function for Daam genes in placental development and are consistent with a role for Daam1 in the Wnt/PCP pathway in mammals.

During differentiation of the male gamete, there is a massive remodelling in the shape and architecture of all the cells in the seminiferous epithelium. The cytoskeleton, as well as many associated proteins, plays a pivotal role in this process. To better characterise the factors involved, we analysed two proteins: the formin, dishevelled-associated activator of morphogenesis 1 (DAAM1), which participates in the regulation of actin polymerisation, and the protease, prolyl endopeptidase (PREP), engaged in microtubule-associated processes. In our previous studies we demonstrated their involvement in cytoskeletal dynamics necessary for correct postnatal development of the rat testis. Here, we used samples of testicular tissue obtained from infertile men by testicular sperm extraction and the spermatozoa of asthenoteratozoospermic patients. By western blot and immunofluorescent analysis, we found that DAAM1 and PREP expression and localisation were impaired in both the testis and spermatozoa, and in particular in the midpiece as well as in the principal and end-pieces of the flagella, as compared with spermatozoa of normospermic men. Our results provide new knowledge of the dynamics of spermatogenesis, raising the possibility of using DAAM1 and PREP as new markers of normal fertility.

Melanoma is a highly aggressive tumour that can metastasize very early in disease progression. Notably, melanoma can disseminate using amoeboid invasive strategies. We show here that high Myosin II activity, high levels of ki-67 and high tumour-initiating abilities are characteristic of invasive amoeboid melanoma cells. Mechanistically, we find that WNT11-FZD7-DAAM1 activates Rho-ROCK1/2-Myosin II and plays a crucial role in regulating tumour-initiating potential, local invasion and distant metastasis formation. Importantly, amoeboid melanoma cells express both proliferative and invasive gene signatures. As such, invasive fronts of human and mouse melanomas are enriched in amoeboid cells that are also ki-67 positive. This pattern is further enhanced in metastatic lesions. We propose eradication of amoeboid melanoma cells after surgical removal as a therapeutic strategy., This work was supported by Cancer Research UK (CRUK) C33043/A12065 and C33043/ A24478 (V.S.-M., I.R.-H., O.M., L.K., G.C. B.F. and J.L.O.); Royal Society RG110591 (V. S.-M.); Barts Charity (V.S.-M., I.R.-H., O.M., J.M. and J.L.O.); Fundacion Alfonso Martin Escudero and Marie Sklodowska-Curie Action, grant agreement No 659022 (I.R.-H.); MRC C97993H (G.C.); The Harry J. Lloyd Charitable Trust (J.L.O. and V.S.-M.); Francis Crick Institute core funding from CRUK FC001112, MRC FC001112 and the Wellcome Trust FC001112 (I.M. and A.P.); CRUK C48390/A21153, CRUK/EPSRC and Wellcome Trust/EPSRC WT 203148/Z/16/Z (G.O.F.); NIHR BRC at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and KCL IS-BRC-1215–20006, CRUK C30122/A11527 and C30122/ A15774, MRC MR/L023091/1, CRUK/NIHR in England/DoH for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland ECMC C10355/A15587 (S.N.K.); ISCIII/FEDER “Una manera de hacer Europa” FIS-PI1500711 and PI18/00573 (R.M.M.); CIBERONC CB16/12/0023 (R.M.M and X.M.-G).

Dishevelled-associated activator of morphogenesis 1 (DAAM1) is a protein belonging to the formin family, which regulates, together with the small GTPase RhoA, the nucleation and the assembly of actin fibres through Wnt-Dishevelled PCP pathway. Its role has been investigated in essential biological processes, such as cell polarity, movement and adhesion during morphogenesis and organogenesis. In this work, we studied the expression of DAAM1 mRNA and protein by PCR and Western blot analyses and its co-localization with actin in adult mouse seminal vesicles by immunofluorescence. We show that both proteins are cytoplasmic: actin is evident at cell–cell junctions and at cell cortex; DAAM1 had a more diffused localization, but is also prominent at the apical plasmatic membrane of epithelial cells. These findings support our hypothesis of a role of DAAM1 in cytoskeletal rearrangement that occurs during the exocytosis of secretory vesicles, and in particular concerning actin filaments. We were also able to detect DAAM1 and actin association in the smooth muscle cells that surround the epithelium too. In this case, we could only speculate the possible involvement of this formin in muscular cells in the maintenance and the regulation of the contractile structures. The present results strongly suggest that DAAM1 could have a pivotal role in vesicle exocytosis and in the physiology of mouse seminal vesicles.

Dishevelled-associated activator of morphogenesis 1 (Daam1) is a formin protein and participates in regulating cell migration of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells. The specific miRNA targeting Daam1 and mediating cell migration and invasion remains obscure. This experiment investigated the suppressive role of miR-613 in TNBC cells. The luciferase activity of Daam1 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) based reporters constructed in HEK-293T and MCF-7 cells suggested that Daam1 was the target gene of miR-613. Overexpressed miR-613 reduced the protein level of Daam1, weakened RhoA activity, and retarded the cell migration, cell invasion and colony formation of TNBC cells. Overexpression of Daam1 or RhoA rescued cell migration and invasion in miR-613-overexpressed TNBC cells, but failed to reverse colony formation. MiR-613 was significantly downregulated in breast cancer tissues compared with that in adjacent normal tissues. This downregulation in TNBC tissues and lymphnode metastatic breast cancer tissues was more obvious than that in non-TNBC tissues and non-metastatic cancer tissues, respectively. MiR-613 weakens the resistance of TNBC cells against paclitaxel rather than adriamycin, cyclophosphamide, docetaxel, and kaempferol. Taken together, miR-613 is involved in cell migration and invasion of TNBC cells via targeting Daam1/RhoA signaling pathway.

As a formin protein, Daam1 (Dishevelled-associated activator of morphogenesis 1) is reported to regulate series of cell processes like endocytosis, cell morphology and migration via its effects on actin assembly in mitosis. However, whether Daam1 plays roles in female meiosis remains uncertain. In this study, we investigated the expression and functions of Daam1 during mouse oocyte meiosis. Our results indicated that Daam1 localized at the cortex of oocytes, which was similar with actin filaments. After Daam1 morpholino (MO) microinjection, the expression of Daam1 significantly decreased, which resulted in the failure of oocyte polar body extrusion. These results might be due to the defects of actin assembly, since the decreased fluorescence intensity of actin filaments in oocyte cortex and cytoplasm were observed. However, Daam1 knockdown seemed not to affect the meiotic spindle movement. In addition, we found that fascin might be the down effector of Daam1, since the protein expression of fascin decreased after Daam1 knockdown. Thus, our data suggested that Daam1 affected actin assembly during oocyte meiotic division via the regulation of fascin expression.

Centrosomes control cell motility, polarity and migration that is thought to be mediated by their microtubule-organizing capacity. Here we demonstrate that WNT signalling drives a distinct form of non-directional cell motility that requires a key centrosome module, but not microtubules or centrosomes. Upon exosome mobilization of PCP-proteins, we show that DVL2 orchestrates recruitment of a CEP192-PLK4/AURKB complex to the cell cortex where PLK4/AURKB act redundantly to drive protrusive activity and cell motility. This is mediated by coordination of formin-dependent actin remodelling through displacement of cortically localized DAAM1 for DAAM2. Furthermore, abnormal expression of PLK4, AURKB and DAAM1 is associated with poor outcomes in breast and bladder cancers. Thus, a centrosomal module plays an atypical function in WNT signalling and actin nucleation that is critical for cancer cell motility and is associated with more aggressive cancers. These studies have broad implications in how contextual signalling controls distinct modes of cell migration., Centrosomes function in cell migration by organizing microtubules. Here, Luo et al. surprisingly show that centrosome proteins also control migration after recruitment by Wnt-PCP proteins to the cell cortex, leading to actin remodelling and protrusive activity relevant to aggressive cancer motility.

The second heart field (SHF) harbors progenitors that are important for heart formation, but little is known about its morphogenesis. We show that SHF population in the mouse splanchnic mesoderm (SpM-SHF) undergoes polarized morphogenesis to preferentially elongate anteroposteriorly. Loss of Wnt5, a putative ligand of the planar cell polarity (PCP) pathway, causes the SpM-SHF to expand isotropically. Temporal tracking reveals that the Wnt5a lineage is a unique subpopulation specified as early as E7.5, and undergoes bi-directional deployment to form specifically the pulmonary trunk and the dorsal mesenchymal protrusion (DMP). In Wnt5a(−/−) mutants, Wnt5a lineage fails to extend into the arterial and venous poles, leading to both outflow tract and atrial septation defects that can be rescued by an activated form of PCP effector Daam1. We identify oriented actomyosin cables in the medial SpM-SHF as a potential Wnt5a-mediated mechanism that promotes SpM-SHF lengthening and restricts its widening. Finally, the Wnt5a lineage also contributes to the pulmonary mesenchyme, suggesting that Wnt5a/PCP is a molecular circuit recruited by the recently identified cardiopulmonary progenitors to coordinate morphogenesis of the pulmonary airways and the cardiac septations necessary for pulmonary circulation. This article has an associated ‘The people behind the papers’ interview.

Although cancer genomes are replete with noncoding mutations, the effects of these mutations remain poorly characterized. Here we perform an integrative analysis of 930 tumor whole genomes and matched transcriptomes, identifying a network of 193 noncoding loci in which mutations disrupt target gene expression. These 'somatic eQTLs' (expression quantitative trait loci) are frequently mutated in specific cancer tissues, and the majority can be validated in an independent cohort of 3,382 tumors. Among these, we find that the effects of noncoding mutations on DAAM1, MTG2 and HYI transcription are recapitulated in multiple cancer cell lines and that increasing DAAM1 expression leads to invasive cell migration. Collectively, the noncoding loci converge on a set of core pathways, permitting a classification of tumors into pathway-based subtypes. The somatic eQTL network is disrupted in 88% of tumors, suggesting widespread impact of noncoding mutations in cancer.

Inturned-mediated complex formation of NPHP4 and DAAM1 is important for ciliogenesis and ciliary function in multiciliated cells, presumably because of its requirement for the local rearrangement of actin cytoskeleton., Motile cilia polarization requires intracellular anchorage to the cytoskeleton; however, the molecular machinery that supports this process remains elusive. We report that Inturned plays a central role in coordinating the interaction between cilia-associated proteins and actin-nucleation factors. We observed that knockdown of nphp4 in multiciliated cells of the Xenopus laevis epidermis compromised ciliogenesis and directional fluid flow. Depletion of nphp4 disrupted the subapical actin layer. Comparison to the structural defects caused by inturned depletion revealed striking similarities. Furthermore, coimmunoprecipitation assays demonstrated that the two proteins interact with each other and that Inturned mediates the formation of ternary protein complexes between NPHP4 and DAAM1. Knockdown of daam1, but not formin-2, resulted in similar disruption of the subapical actin web, whereas nphp4 depletion prevented the association of Inturned with the basal bodies. Thus, Inturned appears to function as an adaptor protein that couples cilia-associated molecules to actin-modifying proteins to rearrange the local actin cytoskeleton.

Wnt ligands regulate heart morphogenesis but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Two Formin-related proteins, DAAM1 and 2, were previously found to bind the Wnt effector Disheveled. Here, since DAAM1 and 2 nucleate actin and mediate Wnt-induced cytoskeletal changes, a floxed-allele of Daam1 was used to disrupt its function specifically in the myocardium and investigate Wnt-associated pathways. Homozygous Daam1 conditional knockout (CKO) mice were viable but had misshapen hearts and poor cardiac function. The defects in Daam1 CKO mice were observed by mid-gestation and were associated with a loss of protrusions from cardiomyocytes invading the outflow tract. Further, these mice exhibited noncompaction cardiomyopathy (NCM) and deranged cardiomyocyte polarity. Interestingly, Daam1 CKO mice that were also homozygous for an insertion disrupting Daam2 (DKO) had stronger NCM, severely reduced cardiac function, disrupted sarcomere structure, and increased myocardial proliferation, suggesting that DAAM1 and DAAM2 have redundant functions. While RhoA was unaffected in the hearts of Daam1/2 DKO mice, AKT activity was lower than in controls, raising the issue of whether DAAM1/2 are only mediating Wnt signaling. Daam1-floxed mice were thus bred to Wnt5a null mice to identify genetic interactions. The hearts of Daam1 CKO mice that were also heterozygous for the null allele of Wnt5a had stronger NCM and more severe loss of cardiac function than Daam1 CKO mice, consistent with DAAM1 and Wnt5a acting in a common pathway. However, deleting Daam1 further disrupted Wnt5a homozygous-null hearts, suggesting that DAAM1 also has Wnt5a-independent roles in cardiac development.

The formin protein dishevelled-associated activator of morphogenesis 1 (DAAM1) polymerizes straight actin filaments and mediates migration of cancer cells. However, how DAAM1 governs cell haptotaxis in response to collagen remains unexplored in breast cancer cells. We hypothesized that DAAM1 mediates invadopodia extension and cell haptotaxis in response to type IV collagen in association with integrin receptors. Using Boyden chamber membranes coated with type IV collagen, we show here that type IV collagen activates both DAAM1 and Ras homolog family member A (RHOA) and promotes haptotaxis of MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-453 breast cancer cells, a process abolished by treatment with the integrin αvβ3 inhibitor cyclo(-RGDfK). shRNA-mediated knockdown of DAAM1 or a dominant-negative DAAM1 mutation (N-DAAM1) significantly decreased collagen-induced RHOA activity and the assembly of stress fibers, invadopodia extension, and cell haptotaxis. Immunoprecipitation and pulldown assays revealed that integrin αvβ3 is associated with, but only indirectly binds to, the C-terminal DAD domain of DAAM1 in mammalian cells. Blockade of RHOA activation with a specific inhibitor (CCG-1423) or via a dominant-negative RHOA mutation (RHOA-N19) suppressed collagen-induced invadopodia extension and haptotaxis of the MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-453 cells. Immunoblotting and immunofluorescence assays indicated high DAAM1 and RHOA expression in invadopodia, which was abolished by cyclo(-RGDfK) treatment or DAAM1 knockdown. These findings have uncovered an integrin αvβ3/DAAM1/RHOA signaling pathway for type IV collagen–induced invadopodia extension and haptotaxis in breast cancer cells. Targeting this pathway may be a means for reducing invasiveness and metastasis of breast cancer.

The signaling pathway of dishevelled-associated activator of morphogenesis 1 (Daam1) triggered by Wnt5a drives cell movement and migration during breast cancer metastasis. However, Wnt5a signaling in glioblastoma progression remains poorly defined. Wnt5a expression and activations of RhoA, Cdc42, and Rac1 were detected in human glioblastoma tissues by using ELISA assays and small G-protein activation assays, respectively. The cell invasion rate and Daam1 activation of glioblastoma U251 and T98MG cells were determined by cell invasion assays and pull-down assays, respectively. According to our experiments, Wnt5a expression and RhoA activation were upregulated in invasive glioblastoma tissues, with a significant positive correlation between them. Wnt5a activated Daam1 and RhoA, and subsequently promoted the invasion of glioblastoma U251 and T98MG cells. This process was abolished by secreted frizzled-related protein 2 (sFRP2), an antagonist that directly binds to Wnt5a. Specific small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting Daam1 markedly inhibited Wnt5a-induced RhoA activation, stress fiber formation and glioblastoma cell invasion. CCG-1423, a RhoA inhibitor, decreased Wnt5a-induced stress fiber formation and glioblastoma cell invasion. Finally, siRNA targeting Daam1 or CCG-1423 treatment did not alter the cell proliferation of glioblastoma U251 and T98MG cells. We thus concluded that Wnt5a promoted glioblastoma cell invasion via Daam1/RhoA signaling pathway.

Borrelia burgdorferi is the causative agent of Lyme disease, an infectious disease that primarily affects the skin, nervous system, and joints. Uptake of borreliae by immune cells is decisive for the course of the infection, and remodelling of the host actin cytoskeleton is crucial in this process. In this study, we showed that the actin-regulatory formin Daam1 is important in Borrelia phagocytosis by primary human macrophages. Uptake of borreliae proceeds preferentially through capture by filopodia and formation of coiling pseudopods that enwrap the spirochetes. Using immunofluorescence, we localized endogenous and overexpressed Daam1 to filopodia and to F-actin-rich uptake structures. Live-cell imaging further showed that Daam1 is enriched at coiling pseudopods that arise from the macrophage surface. This filopodia-independent step was corroborated by control experiments of phagocytic cup formation with latex beads. Moreover, siRNA-mediated knockdown of Daam1 led to a 65% reduction of borreliae-induced filopodia, and, as shown by the outside-inside staining technique, to a 50% decrease in phagocytic uptake of borreliae, as well as a 37% reduction in coiling pseudopod formation. Collectively, we showed that Daam1 plays a dual role in the phagocytic uptake of borreliae: first, as a regulator of filopodia, which are used for capturing spirochetes, and second, in the formation of the coiling pseudopod that enwraps the bacterial cell. These data identify Daam1 as a novel regulator of B. burgdorferi phagocytosis. At the same time, this is the first demonstration of a role for Daam1 in phagocytic processes in general.-Hoffmann, A.-K., Naj, X., Linder, S. Daam1 is a regulator of filopodia formation and phagocytic uptake of Borrelia burgdorferi by primary human macrophages.

Seven of 15 different mouse formins localized in diverse patterns to cardiomyocyte sarcomeres. Four were required for proper organization of myofibrils, and two were critical for remodeling and repair of myofibril structure., Cardiac and skeletal muscle function depends on the proper formation of myofibrils, which are tandem arrays of highly organized actomyosin contractile units called sarcomeres. How the architecture of these colossal molecular assemblages is established during development and maintained over the lifetime of an animal is poorly understood. We investigate the potential roles in myofibril formation and repair of formin proteins, which are encoded by 15 different genes in mammals. Using quantitative real-time PCR analysis, we find that 13 formins are differentially expressed in mouse hearts during postnatal development. Seven formins immunolocalize to sarcomeres in diverse patterns, suggesting that they have a variety of functional roles. Using RNA interference silencing, we find that the formins mDia2, DAAM1, FMNL1, and FMNL2 are required nonredundantly for myofibrillogenesis. Knockdown phenotypes include global loss of myofibril organization and defective sarcomeric ultrastructure. Finally, our analysis reveals an unanticipated requirement specifically for FMNL1 and FMNL2 in the repair of damaged myofibrils. Together our data reveal an unexpectedly large number of formins, with diverse localization patterns and nonredundant roles, functioning in myofibril development and maintenance, and provide the first evidence of actin assembly factors being required to repair myofibrils.

Ovarian cancer (OvCa) has the highest morbidity among all gynecologic cancers worldwide, and its distant metastasis is one of main causes for the poor prognosis of OvCa patients. Our previous studies have reported that DAAM1-involved signaling pathways play vital roles in metastasis of breast cancer. However, whether DAAM1 participates in OvCa migration and/or invasion is still unknown. The impact of DAAM1 on cell migration and invasion in OvCa was evaluated by wound healing assay and Boyden chamber assay. The specific miRNA targeting DAAM1 was predicted by bioinformatics methods and verified by dual-luciferase activity assay. The miR-208a-5p expression levels in OvCa tissues and the impacts of miR-208a-5p on cell migration and invasion were also assessed, respectively. High expression of DAAM1 was associated with distant metastasis in OvCa. Silence of DAAM1 by siRNA blocked the migration and invasion of OVCAR-3 cells. MiR-208a-5p directly targeted DAAM1 and was shown a decreased expression in metastatic OvCa tissues. Elevated expression of miR-208a-5p inhibited the migration and invasion of OVCAR-3 cell which can be rescued by DAAM1 overexpression. Our data suggest that miR-208-5p/DAAM1 axis participates in OvCa migration and invasion and may be a novel clinical target to limit OvCa metastasis.

SummaryFilopodia are slender cellular protrusions that dynamically extend and retract to facilitate directional cell migration, pathogen sensing, and cell-cell adhesion [1–4]. Each filopodium contains a rigid and organized bundle of parallel actin filaments, which are elongated at filopodial tips by formins and Ena/VASP proteins [5–10]. However, relatively little is known about how the actin filaments in the filopodial shaft are spatially organized to form a bundle with appropriate dimensions and mechanical properties. Here, we report that the mammalian formin Daam1 (Disheveled-associated activator of morphogenesis 1) is a potent actin-bundling protein and localizes all along the filopodial shaft, which differs from other formins that localize specifically to the tips. Silencing of Daam1 led to severe defects in filopodial number, integrity, and architecture, similar to silencing of the bundling protein fascin. This led us to investigate the potential relationship between Daam1 and fascin. Fascin and Daam1 coimmunoprecipitated from cell extracts, and silencing of fascin led to a striking loss of Daam1 localization to filopodial shafts, but not tips. Furthermore, purified fascin bound directly to Daam1, and multicolor single-molecule TIRF imaging revealed that fascin recruited Daam1 to and stabilized Daam1 on actin bundles in vitro. Our results reveal an unanticipated and direct collaboration between Daam1 and fascin in bundling actin, which is required for proper filopodial formation.

Chromosome instability, frequently found in cancer cells, is caused by a deficiency in cell division, including centrosomal amplification and cytokinesis failure, and can result in abnormal chromosome content or aneuploidy. The small GTPase pathways have been implicated as important processes in cell division. We found that knockdown of a tumor suppressor protein Kank1 increases the number of cells with a micronucleus or bi-/multi-nuclei, which was likely caused by centrosomal amplification. Kank1 interacts with Daam1, known to bind to and activate a small GTPase, RhoA, in actin assembly. Knockdown of Kank1 or overexpression of Daam1, respectively, hyperactivates RhoA, potentially leading to the modulation of the activity of Aurora-A, a key regulator of centrosomal functions, eventually resulting in centrosomal amplification. Kank1 is also associated with contractile ring formation in collaboration with RhoA, and its deficiency results in the interruption of normal daughter cell separation, generating multinucleate cells. Such abnormal segregation of chromosomes may cause further chromosomal instability and abnormal gene functions, leading to tumorigenesis. Thus, Kank1 plays a crucial role in regulating the activity of RhoA through retrieving excess Daam1 and balancing the activities of RhoA and its effectors.

An atypical kinesin, Kif26b, is identified as a signaling effector of the Wnt PCP under Daam1 signaling. Molecular evidence shows that it interacts with Dvl3/Daam1. Kif26b is involved in endothelial microtubule network stabilization and has a crucial role together with the Dvl3/Daam1 complex in establishing endothelial cell polarity., Angiogenesis involves the coordinated growth and migration of endothelial cells (ECs) toward a proangiogenic signal. The Wnt planar cell polarity (PCP) pathway, through the recruitment of Dishevelled (Dvl) and Dvl-associated activator of morphogenesis (Daam1), has been proposed to regulate cell actin cytoskeleton and microtubule (MT) reorganization for oriented cell migration. Here we report that Kif26b—a kinesin—and Daam1 cooperatively regulate initiation of EC sprouting and directional migration via MT reorganization. First, we find that Kif26b is recruited within the Dvl3/Daam1 complex. Using a three-dimensional in vitro angiogenesis assay, we show that Kif26b and Daam1 depletion impairs tip cell polarization and destabilizes extended vascular processes. Kif26b depletion specifically alters EC directional migration and mislocalized MT organizing center (MTOC)/Golgi and myosin IIB cell rear enrichment. Therefore the cell fails to establish a proper front–rear polarity. Of interest, Kif26b ectopic expression rescues the siDaam1 polarization defect phenotype. Finally, we show that Kif26b functions in MT stabilization, which is indispensable for asymmetrical cell structure reorganization. These data demonstrate that Kif26b, together with Dvl3/Daam1, initiates cell polarity through the control of PCP signaling pathway–dependent activation.

Dishevelled-associated activator of morphogenesis 1 (Daam1), a member of the formin protein family, plays an important role in regulating the actin cytoskeleton via mediation of linear actin assembly. Previous functional studies of Daam1 in lower species suggest its essential role in Drosophila trachea formation and Xenopus gastrulation. However, its in vivo physiological function in mammalian systems is largely unknown. We have generated Daam1-deficient mice via gene-trap technology and found that Daam1 is highly expressed in developing murine organs, including the heart. Daam1-deficient mice exhibit embryonic and neonatal lethality and suffer multiple cardiac defects, including ventricular noncompaction, double outlet right ventricles and ventricular septal defects. In vivo genetic rescue experiments further confirm that the lethality of Daam1-deficient mice results from the inherent cardiac abnormalities. In-depth analyses have revealed that Daam1 is important for regulating filamentous actin assembly and organization, and consequently for cytoskeletal function in cardiomyocytes, which contributes to proper heart morphogenesis. Daam1 is also found to be important for proper cytoskeletal architecture and functionalities in embryonic fibroblasts. Biochemical analyses indicate that Daam1 does not regulate cytoskeletal organization through RhoA, Rac1 or Cdc42. Our study highlights a crucial role for Daam1 in regulating the actin cytoskeleton and tissue morphogenesis.

We screened for Rho-GEF-silencing shRNAs that are capable of suppressing Dishevelled (Dvl)-induced neurite retraction in N1E-115 cells and identified p114-RhoGEF and Lfc as the Rho-GEFs responsible for Wnt-3a– and Dvl-induced RhoA activation and neurite retraction in N1E-115 mouse neuroblastoma cells., The Wnt-induced planar cell polarity (PCP) signaling pathway is essential for polarized cell migration and morphogenesis. Dishevelled (Dvl) and its binding protein Daam1 mediate RhoA activation in this pathway. WGEF, a member of the Rho-guanine nucleotide exchange factor (Rho-GEF) family, was shown to play a role in Wnt-induced RhoA activation in Xenopus embryos. However, it has remained unknown which member(s) of a Rho-GEF family are involved in Wnt/Dvl-induced RhoA activation in mammalian cells. Here we identified p114-RhoGEF and Lfc (also called GEF-H1) as the Rho-GEFs responsible for Wnt-3a–induced RhoA activation in N1E-115 mouse neuroblastoma cells. We screened for Rho-GEF–silencing short-hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) that are capable of suppressing Dvl-induced neurite retraction in N1E-115 cells and found that p114-RhoGEF and Lfc shRNAs, but not WGEF shRNA, suppressed Dvl- and Wnt-3a–induced neurite retraction. p114-RhoGEF and Lfc shRNAs also inhibited Dvl- and Wnt-3a–induced RhoA activation, and p114-RhoGEF and Lfc proteins were capable of binding to Dvl and Daam1. Additionally, the Dvl-binding domains of p114-RhoGEF and Lfc inhibited Dvl-induced neurite retraction. Our results suggest that p114-RhoGEF and Lfc are critically involved in Wnt-3a– and Dvl-induced RhoA activation and neurite retraction in N1E-115 cells.

The Wnt/planar cell polarity (PCP) pathway regulates directed cell movement during development and was recently found to play a critical role in endothelial cell proliferation and angiogenesis [Zhang Y, et al. (2006) Chem Biol 13:1001–1009; Masckauchan TN, et al. (2006) Mol Biol Cell 17:5163–5172]. However, the mechanisms by which PCP signaling components regulate angiogenesis remain unknown. We report that expression of a constitutively active C-terminal domain of Dishevelled-associated activator of morphogenesis 1 (DAAM1) selectively inhibited endothelial cell proliferation. Moreover, this activated construct suppressed endothelial cell migration and the ability to form coordinated networks in vivo and in vitro. Although constitutively active DAAM1 (CDAAM1) induced both actin polymerization and microtubule (MT) stabilization, the stabilization of MTs alone was sufficient to inhibit endothelial cell growth selectively. Inhibition of actin polymerization alone by jasplakinolide treatment failed to reproduce the inhibitory effects of CDAAM1. These results indicate that DAAM1 regulates endothelial cell growth through MT stabilization in a cell type-selective manner and suggest that PCP signaling plays a pivotal role in angiogenesis by regulating MT stabilization.

Parietal endoderm (PE) contributes to the yolk sac and is the first migratory cell type in the mammalian embryo. We can visualize PE migration in vitro using the F9 teratocarcinoma derived embryoid body outgrowth system and, show here that PE migration is directed by the non-canonical Wnt planar cell polarity (PCP) pathway via Rho/ROCK. Based on golgi apparatus localization and microtubule orientation, 68.6% of cells in control outgrowths are oriented in the direction of migration. Perturbation of Wnt signaling via sFRP treatment results in a loss of orientation coupled with an increase in cell migration. Inhibition of the PCP pathway at the level of Daam1 also results in a loss of cell orientation along with an increase in cell migration, as seen with sFRP treatment. Constitutively active Daam can inhibit the loss of orientation that occurs with sFRP treatment. We previously demonstrated that ROCK inhibition leads to an increase in cell migration, and we now show that these cells also lack oriented migration. Canonical Wnt signaling or the Rac arm of the PCP pathway does not appear to play a role in PE oriented migration. These data suggest the PCP pathway via Rho/ROCK modulates migration of PE.

The Formin proteins are central players in mediating cytoskeletal reorganization and are epistatically positioned in a pathway downstream of Rho activation. These proteins exist in the cytoplasm in an autoinhibited state, which is mediated by intramolecular interactions between the amino-terminal GTPase binding domain (GBD) that encompasses the diaphanous inhibitory domain (DID) and the carboxyl-terminal diaphanous autoregulatory domain (DAD). It has been proposed that the binding of Rho within the GBD releases this molecule from autoinhibition by disrupting the DID/DAD interactions. Here we report that Daam1 is not significantly activated by Rho binding but rather by its interaction with Dishevelled (Dvl). Removal of the DAD domain disrupts interactions between Dvl and Daam1, and the binding of Dvl to Daam1 disrupts the interaction between the GBD and DAD that mediates Daam1 autoinhibition. Mutations within or removal of the DAD converts Daam1 into an active protein that can induce Rho activation. We further demonstrate that Dvl synergizes with Daam1 to regulate gastrulation during Xenopus embryogenesis and that expression of activated Daam1 can rescue impaired convergent extension movements resulting from deregulated noncanonical Wnt signaling. Our studies together define the importance of a carboxyl-terminal binding partner, Dvl, that leads to the activation of Daam1.

Formins are a widely expressed family of proteins that govern cell shape, adhesion, cytokinesis, and morphogenesis by remodeling the actin and microtubule cytoskeletons. These large multidomain proteins associate with a variety of other cellular factors and directly nucleate actin polymerization through a novel mechanism. The signature formin homology 2 (FH2) domain initiates filament assembly and remains persistently associated with the fast-growing barbed end, enabling rapid insertion of actin subunits while protecting the end from capping proteins. On the basis of structural and mechanistic work, an integrated model is presented for FH2 processive motion. The adjacent FH1 domain recruits profilin-actin complexes and accelerates filament elongation. The most predominantly expressed formins in animals and fungi are autoinhibited through intramolecular interactions and appear to be activated by Rho GTPases and additional factors. Other classes of formins lack the autoinhibitory and/or Rho-binding domains and thus are likely to be controlled by alternative mechanisms.

Daam1 (dishevelled-associated activator of morphogenesis-1) is a diaphanous-related formin first studied as a novel dishevelled binding protein and shown to be crucial for the planar cell polarity (PCP) pathway in Xenopus. Daam1, like other formins, directs nucleation and elongation of new actin filaments using its conserved formin-homology-2 (FH2) domain. Here we report the crystal structure of a large C-terminal fragment of human Daam1 containing the FH2 domain. The structure, determined at 2.25 A resolution using the single-wavelength anomalous diffraction (SAD) phasing method, reveals a "tethered dimer" architecture that is similar to that previously described for the FH2 domain of the yeast formin Bni1, which shares approximately 21% sequence identity with Daam1. Despite the overall similarity with the dimeric FH2 domain of Bni1 and with a truncated monomeric structure of mDia1, the Daam1 FH2 structure reveals a number of differences in secondary structure elements and in the "lasso/post" dimerization interface that may be functionally important. Most strikingly, the two halves of the crystallographic dimer pack together in a manner that occludes their actin binding surfaces. This "locked" conformation is stabilized by two novel, interacting beta-strands formed by the ends of the linkers that connect the two sides of the dimer. The Daam1 FH2 domain has weak actin assembly activity as compared with other mammalian formins, but mutations that disrupt the beta-strand lock increase activity about tenfold to a level comparable to other formins, suggesting that this occluded conformation may represent an auto-inhibited conformation of the Daam1 FH2 domain.

Embryopathies that develop as a consequence of maternal diabetes have been studied intensely in both experimental and clinical scenarios. Accordingly, hyperglycemia has been shown to downregulate the expression of elements in the non-canonical Wnt/PCP pathway, such as the Dishevelled-associated activator of morphogenesis 1 (Daam1) and Vangl2. Daam1 is a formin that is essential for actin polymerization and for cytoskeletal reorganization, and it is expressed strongly in certain organs during mouse development, including the eye, neural tube and heart. Daam1gt/gt and Daam1gt/+ embryos develop ocular defects (anophthalmia or microphthalmia) similar to those detected as a result of hyperglycemia. Indeed, studying the effect of maternal diabetes on the Wnt/PCP pathway demonstrated that there was strong association with the Daam1 genotype, whereby the embryopathy observed in Daam1gt/+ mutant embryos of diabetic dams was more severe. There was evidence that embryonic exposure to glucose in vitro diminishes the expression of genes in the Wnt/PCP pathway, leading to altered cytoskeletal organization, cell shape and cell polarity in the optic vesicle. Hence, the Wnt/PCP pathway appears to influence cell morphology and cell polarity, events that drive the cellular movements required for optic vesicle formation and in turn are required to maintain the fate determination. Here, we demonstrate that the Wnt/PCP pathway is involved in the early stages of mouse eye development and that it is altered by diabetes, provoking the ocular phenotype observed in the affected embryos.

Non-canonical Wnt signaling plays important roles during vertebrate embryogenesis and is required for cell motility during gastrulation. However,the molecular mechanisms of how Wnt signaling regulates modification of the actin cytoskeleton remain incompletely understood. We had previously identified the Formin homology protein Daam1 as an important link between Dishevelled and the Rho GTPase for cytoskeletal modulation. Here, we report that Profilin1 is an effector downstream of Daam1 required for cytoskeletal changes. Profilin1 interacted with the FH1 domain of Daam1 and was localized with Daam1 to actin stress fibers in response to Wnt signaling in mammalian cells. In addition, depletion of Profilin1 inhibited stress fiber formation induced by non-canonical Wnt signaling. Inhibition or depletion of Profilin1 in vivo specifically inhibited blastopore closure in Xenopus but did not affect convergent extension movements, tissue separation or neural fold closure. Our studies define a molecular pathway downstream of Daam1 that controls Wnt-mediated cytoskeletal reorganization for a specific morphogenetic process during vertebrate gastrulation.

Binding partners for the Cdc42 effector CIP4 were identified by the yeast two-hybrid system, as well as by testing potential CIP4-binding proteins in coimmunoprecipitation experiments. One of the CIP4-binding proteins, DAAM1, was characterised in more detail. DAAM1 is a ubiquitously expressed member of the mammalian diaphanous-related formins, which include proteins such as mDia1 and mDia2. DAAM1 was shown to bind to the SH3 domain of CIP4 in vivo. Ectopically expressed DAAM1 localised in dotted pattern at the dorsal side of transfected cells and the protein was accumulated in the proximity to the microtubule organising centre. Moreover, ectopic expression of DAAM1 induced a marked alteration of the cell morphology, seen as rounding up of the cells, the formation of branched protrusions as well as a reduction of stress-fibres in the transfected cells. Coimmunoprecipitation experiments demonstrated that DAAM1 bound to RhoA and Cdc42 in a GTP-dependent manner. Moreover, DAAM1 was found to interact and collaborate with the non-receptor tyrosine kinase Src in the formation of branched protrusions. Taken together, our data indicate that DAAM1 communicates with Rho GTPases, CIP4 and Src in the regulation of the signalling pathways that co-ordinate the dynamics of the actin filament system.

Formins are involved in a wide range of cellular processes that require the remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton. Here, we have analyzed a novel Drosophila formin, belonging to the recently described DAAM subfamily. In contrast to previous assumptions, we show that DAAMplays no essential role in planar cell polarity signaling, but it has striking requirements in organizing apical actin cables that define the taenidial fold pattern of the tracheal cuticle. These observations provide evidence the first time that the function of the taenidial organization is to prevent the collapse of the tracheal tubes. Our results indicate that although DAAM is regulated by RhoA, it functions upstream or parallel to the non-receptor tyrosine kinases Src42A and Tec29 to organize the actin cytoskeleton and to determine the cuticle pattern of the Drosophila respiratory system.

During vertebrate embryogenesis, secreted Wnt molecules regulate cell fates by signaling through the canonical pathway mediated by β-catenin, and regulate planar cell polarity (PCP) and convergent extension movements through alternative pathways. The phosphoprotein Dishevelled (Dsh/Dvl) is a Wnt signal transducer thought to function in all Wnt signaling pathways. A recently identified member of the Formin family, Daam (Dishevelled—associated activator of morphogenesis), regulates the morphogenetic movements of vertebrate gastrulation in a Wnt-dependent manner through direct interactions with Dsh/Dvl and RhoA. We describe two mouse Daam cDNAs, mDaam1 and mDaam2, which encode proteins characterized by highly conserved formin homology domains and which are expressed in complementary patterns during mouse development. Cross-species comparisons indicate that the expression domains of Xenopus Daam1 (XDaam1) mirror mDaam1 expression. Our results demonstrate that Daams are expressed in tissues known to require Wnts and are consistent with Daams being effectors of Wnt signaling during vertebrate development.

Formin proteins were recognized as effectors of Rho GTPases some 15 years ago. They contribute to different cellular actin cytoskeleton structures by their ability to polymerize straight actin filaments at the barbed end. While not all formins necessarily interact with Rho GTPases, a subgroup of mammalian formins, termed Diaphanous-related formins or DRFs, were shown to be activated by small GTPases of the Rho superfamily. DRFs are autoinhibited in the resting state by an N- to C-terminal interaction that renders the central actin polymerization domain inactive. Upon the interaction with a GTP-bound Rho, Rac, or Cdc42 GTPase, the C-terminal autoregulation domain is displaced from its N-terminal recognition site and the formin becomes active to polymerize actin filaments. In this review we discuss the current knowledge on the structure, activation, and function of formin-GTPase interactions for the mammalian formin families Dia, Daam, FMNL, and FHOD. We describe both direct and indirect interactions of formins with GTPases, which lead to formin activation and cytoskeletal rearrangements. The multifaceted function of formins as effector proteins of Rho GTPases thus reflects the diversity of the actin cytoskeleton in cells.

Low-density lipoprotein receptor related protein 6 (Lrp6) mutational effects on neurulation were examined using gain (Crooked tail, Lrp6(Cd)) and loss (Lrp6(-)) of function mouse lines. Two features often associated with canonical Wnt signaling, dorsal-ventral patterning and proliferation, were no different from wild-type (WT) in the Lrp6(Cd/Cd) neural tube. Lrp6(-/-) embryos showed reduced proliferation and subtle patterning changes in the neural folds. Cell polarity defects in both Lrp6(Cd/Cd) and Lrp6(-/-) cranial folds were indicated by cell shape, centrosome displacement and failure of F-actin and GTP-RhoA accumulation at the apical surface. Mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) derived from Lrp6(Cd/Cd) or Lrp6(-/-) embryos exhibited elevated and decreased RhoA basal activity levels, respectively. While ligand-independent activation of canonical Wnt signaling, bypassing Lrp-Frizzled receptors, did not activate RhoA, non-canonical Wnt5a stimulation of RhoA activity was impaired in Lrp6(-/-) MEFs. RhoA inhibition exacerbated NTDs in cultured Lrp6 knockout embryos compared with WT littermates. In contrast, a ROCK inhibitor rescued Lrp6(Cd/Cd) embryos from NTDs. Lrp6 co-immunoprecipitated with Disheveled-associated activator of morphogenesis 1 (DAAM1), a formin promoting GEF activity in Wnt signaling. Biochemical and cell biological data revealed intracellular accumulation of Lrp6(Cd) protein where interaction with DAAM1 could account for observed elevated RhoA activity. Conversely, null mutation that eliminates Lrp6 interaction with DAAM1 led to lower basal RhoA activity in Lrp6(-/-) embryos. These results indicate that Lrp6 mediates not only canonical Wnt signaling, but can also modulate non-canonical pathways involving RhoA-dependent mechanisms to impact neurulation, possibly through intracellular complexes with DAAM1.

The RHO1 gene encodes a homolog of mammalian RhoA small GTP binding protein in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Rho1p is localized at the growth sites, including the bud tip and the cytokinesis site, and is required for bud formation. We have recently shown that Pkc1p, a yeast homolog of mammalian protein kinase C, and glucan synthase are targets of Rho1p. Using the two-hybrid screening system, we cloned a gene encoding a protein which interacted with the GTP-bound form of Rho1p. This gene was identified as BNI1, known to be implicated in cytokinesis or establishment of cell polarity in S.cerevisiae. Bni1p shares homologous domains (FH1 and FH2 domains) with proteins involved in cytokinesis or establishment of cell polarity, including formin of mouse, capu and dia of Drosophila and FigA of Aspergillus. A temperature-sensitive mutation in which the RHO1 gene was replaced by the mammalian RhoA gene showed a synthetically lethal interaction with the bni1 mutation and the RhoA bni1 mutant accumulated cells with a deficiency in cytokinesis. Furthermore, this synthetic lethality was caused by the incapability of RhoA to activate Pkc1p, but not glucan synthase. These results suggest that Rho1p regulates cytoskeletal reorganization at least through Bni1p and Pkc1p.