The Nance-Horan syndrome protein encodes a functional WAVE homology domain (WHD) and is important for co-ordinating actin remodelling and maintaining cell morphology.

Nance-Horan syndrome (NHS) is an X-linked developmental disorder, characterized by bilateral congenital cataracts, dental anomalies, facial dysmorphism and mental retardation. Null mutations in a novel gene, NHS, cause the syndrome. The NHS gene appears to have multiple isoforms as a result of alternative transcription, but a cellular function for the NHS protein has yet to be defined. We describe NHS as a founder member of a new protein family (NHS, NHSL1 and NHSL2). Here, we demonstrate that NHS is a novel regulator of actin remodelling and cell morphology. NHS localizes to sites of cell-cell contact, the leading edge of lamellipodia and focal adhesions. The N-terminus of isoforms NHS-A and NHS-1A, implicated in the pathogenesis of NHS, have a functional WAVE homology domain that interacts with the Abi protein family, haematopoietic stem/progenitor cell protein 300 (HSPC300), Nap1 and Sra1. NHS knockdown resulted in the disruption of the actin cytoskeleton. We show that NHS controls cell morphology by maintaining the integrity of the circumferential actin ring and controlling lamellipod formation. NHS knockdown led to a striking increase in cell spreading. Conversely, ectopic overexpression of NHS inhibited lamellipod formation. Remodelling of the actin cytoskeleton and localized actin polymerization into branched actin filaments at the plasma membrane are essential for mediating changes in cell shape, migration and cell contact. Our data identify NHS as a new regulator of actin remodelling. We suggest that NHS orchestrates actin regulatory protein function in response to signalling events during development.

Linked regulation of motility and integrin function in activated migrating neutrophils revealed by interference in remodelling of the cytoskeleton.

Neutrophils migrate rapidly by co-ordinating regulation of their beta2-integrin adhesion with turnover of filamentous F-actin. The seven-protein Arp2/3 complex regulates actin polymerisation upon activation by proteins of the WASP-family. To investigate links between actin polymerisation, adhesion, and migration, we used a novel osmotic-shock method to load neutrophils with peptides: (1). WASP-WA and Scar-WA (which incorporate the actin- and Arp2/3-binding regions of WASP and Scar1), to compete with endogenous WASP-family members; (2). proline rich motifs (PRM) from the ActA protein of L. monocytogenes or from vinculin, which bind vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP), a regulator of cytoskeleton assembly. In a flow system, rolling-adherent neutrophils were stimulated with formyl tri-peptide. This caused rapid immobilisation, followed by migration with increasing velocity, supported by activated beta2-integrin CD11b/CD18. Loading ActA PRM (but not vinculin PRM) caused concentration-dependent reduction in migration velocity. At the highest concentration, unstimulated neutrophils had elevated F-actin and were rigid, but could not change their F-actin content or shape upon stimulation. Scar-WA also caused marked reduction in migration rate, but WASP-WA had a lesser effect. Scar-WA did not modify activation-dependent formation of F-actin or change in shape. However, a reduction in rate of downregulation of integrin adhesion appeared to contribute to impaired migration. These studies show that interference in cytoskeletal reorganisation that follows activation in neutrophils, can impair regulation of integrin function as well as motility. They also suggest a role of the Arp2/3 complex and WASP-family in co-ordinating actin polymerisation and integrin function in migrating neutrophils.