Jasplakinolide: an actin-specific reagent that promotes actin polymerization.

Jasplakinolide, a cyclo-depsipeptide is a commonly used actin filament polymerizing and stabilizing drug. The substance has originally been isolated from a marine sponge, and can now be synthesized and has become commercially available. This, together with the benefit that jasplakinolide is membrane permeable has made it a commonly used tool in cell biology, when actin filament stabilization or polymerization has to be achieved. This may either be the case in studies on morphogenesis, motility, organelle movement, or when apoptosis has to be induced. Its use as a potent anticancer drug is discussed. The direct action on actin filaments may have further consequences in golgi body and membrane raft protein organization. In this chapter, the visualization of jasplaklinolide effects by different fluorescent and transmission electron microscopic methods is described. As competitive binding capacities of jasplakinolide and phalloidin make the detection of actin filaments by fluorescently labeled phalloidin problematic, alternatives are given here.

Holzinger A 《-》

A simple model for the cooperative stabilisation of actin filaments by phalloidin and jasplakinolide.

The stabilisation of magnesium actin filaments by phalloidin and jasplakinolide was studied using the method of differential scanning calorimetry. The results showed that actin could adapt three conformations in the presence of drugs. One conformation was adapted in direct interaction with the drug, while another conformation was identical to that observed in the absence of drugs. A third conformation was induced through allosteric inter-protomer interactions. The effect of both drugs propagated cooperatively along the actin filaments. The number of the cooperative units determined by using a quantitative model was larger for jasplakinolide (15 actin protomers) than for phalloidin (7 protomers).

Visegrády B ，Lorinczy D ，Hild G ，Somogyi B ，Nyitrai M ... -  《FEBS LETTERS》

Jasplakinolide, a novel actin targeting peptide, inhibits cell growth and induces actin filament polymerization in the green alga Micrasterias.

Holzinger A ，Meindl U 《cell motility and the cytoskeleton》

Actin-Dynamics in Plant Cells: The Function of Actin-Perturbing Substances: Jasplakinolide, Chondramides, Phalloidin, Cytochalasins, and Latrunculins.

Holzinger A ，Blaas K 《-》

Growth inhibition and changes in morphology and actin distribution in Acetabularia acetabulum by phalloidin and phalloidin derivatives.

Sawitzky H ，Hanfstingl U ，Faulstich H 《PROTOPLASMA》