Actin on trafficking

Abstract

Here, we present emerging ideas surrounding the interplay between the actin cytoskeleton and receptor trans- port and activation. The bulk of actin dynamics in cells is thought to contribute to architecture and mobility. Actin also contributes to trafficking, acting as a molecular scaffold, providing force to deform membranes, facilitating vesicle abscission or propelling a vesicle through the cytoplasm1,2 and recent studies high- light important connections between the directed trafficking of receptors and the impact on cell migration and actin dynamics. Additionally, a number of newly described actin nucleation promot- ing factors, such as the vesicle associated protein WASH, reveal unexpected roles of actin in membrane traffic and suggest that the cell dedicates a significant proportion of its regulation of actin dynamics to controlling trafficking.