NAA80 is actin’s N-terminal acetyltransferase and regulates cytoskeleton assembly and cell motility

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1718336115
• Publication Date: 2018-03-26T19:15:38Z
• Authors: Adrian Drazic; Henriette Aksnes; Michaël Marie; Malgorzata Boczko...; Sylvia Varland; Evy Timmerman; Håvard Foyn; Nina Glomnes; Grzegorz Rebowski; Francis Impens; Kris Gevaert; Roberto Dominguez; Thomas Arnesen
• Keywords: Lamellipodium; Acetyltransferases; Filopodia; Actin remodeling; Profilin; MDia1

Significance More than 80% of human proteins are N-terminal (Nt)–acetylated during translation. In contrast, actin, the most abundant protein in cytoplasm animal cells, is Nt-acetylated posttranslationally and following a unique multistep mechanism that has remained poorly characterized. Here, we describe discovery actin’s acetyltransferase (NAT), NAA80. We further demonstrate actin Nt-acetylation plays essential roles filament assembly, cytoskeleton organization, cell motility, resulting net increase ratio monomeric to filamentous fewer lamellipodia filopodia. These effects converge reduce hypermotility. This work establishes role for cytoskeletal animals reveals NAT acting on single dedicated substrate.