Cortactin: Cell Functions of A Multifaceted Actin-Binding Protein

Abstract

Cortactin fulfills many functions in various cell types. These functions have been considered to derive from its ability to activate the Actin-related protein 2/3 (Arp2/3) complex, and are regulated by post-translational modifications, including phosphorylation and acetylation. New evidence suggests that cortactin regulates cell migration by controlling the deposition of extracellular matrix proteins rather than lamellipodial Arp2/3 activation, and that cortactin also functions in GTPase signaling, vesicular trafficking, and actomyosin contractility. These recent new findings and concepts are relevant for physiological and pathological cell functions, but have not yet been put into mechanistic context. Here, we reconsider current thinking on cortactin functions in different cell types during health and disease, and discuss potential directions of future research in cortactin biology.

Keywords: Arp2/3 complex; HS1; actin remodeling; cancer; inflammation; lamellipodia.