gCap39, a calcium ion- and polyphosphoinositide-regulated actin capping protein

The polymerization of actin filaments is involved in growth, movement, and cell division. It has been shown that actin polymerization is controlled by gelsolin, whose interactions with actin are activated by calcium ion (Ca ²⁺) and inhibited by membrane polyphosphoinositides (PPI). A smaller Ca²⁺- and PPI-regulated protein, gCap39, which has 49% sequence identity with gelsolin, has been identified by cDNA cloning and protein purification. Like gelsolin, gCap39 binds to the fast-growing (+) end of actin filaments. However, gCap39 does not sever actin filaments and can respond to Ca²⁺ and PPI transients independently, under conditions in which gelsolin is ineffective. The coexistence of gCap39 with gelsolin should allow precise regulation of actin assembly at the leading edge of the cell.