Interactions of human profilin-1 and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate in giant unilamellar vesicles

K. Krishnan,¹ S.H. Cody,² A.H.A. Clayton² and P.D.J. Moens,¹ ¹The University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia and ²Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, PO Box 2008, Royal Melbourne Hospital, VIC 3050, Australia.

Human Profilin-I is a small actin binding proteins which also interact with polyphosphoinositides (PPI) (Lassing & Lindberg, 1985) and proline rich motif containing proteins. Profilin is involved in the signaling pathway linking the receptors in the cell membrane to the microfilament system. Profilin is thought to play critical roles in this signaling pathway through its interaction with phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [PI(4,5)P₂] (Lu et al., 1996). So far, profilin’s interaction with PPI has only been studied in micelles or small vesicles. Profilin binds with high affinity to small clusters of PI(4,5)P₂ molecules (Goldschmidt-Clermont et al., 1991). In cells, the organization of PPI lipids is different from micelles, therefore the interaction with profilin might be quite different.

We have used giant unilamellar vesicles (GUV) as a membrane model system to investigate the interactions between PI(4,5)P₂ and profilin. BODIPY® TMR PI(4,5)P₂C16 (Rhodamine labelled 16-carbon fatty acid containing Phosphatidylinositol 4, 5-bisphosphate) was incorporated into GUV membrane. Confocal images of GUVs were obtained in presence and absence of profilin. These images were analysed using SimFCS software (Prof. Enrico Gratton, Laboratory for Fluorescence Dynamics, Irvine, USA). The diffusion coefficient and the aggregation of PIP2 in the membrane were determined and profilin had a clear effect upon the diffusion coefficient and aggregation of PIP2.

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Lu PJ, Shieh WR, Rhee SG, Yin HL & Chen CS. (1996) Biochemistry, 35: 14027-14034.

Goldschmidt-Clermont PJ, Kim JW, Machesky LM & Rhee SG. (1991) Science, 251: 1231-1233.