Rab35 Controls Actin Bundling by Recruiting Fascin as an Effector Protein

Abstract

Fascin-Actin Rab Bristles Rab proteins have diverse functions in directing intracellular traffic and may also affect development. Zhang et al. (p. 1250 ) show that during Drosophila development Rab35 influences the development of bristles, neurosensory structures built upon bundled actin. Rab35 also caused massive actin-rich filopodia protrusions from cultured cells. Activated Rab35 interacted directly with fascin, an actin filament bundling protein, to colocalize near the plasma membrane. When Rab35 was engineered to interact with the surface of mitochondria, it stimulated localized actin assembly in a fascin-dependent manner. Thus, fascin is a Rab35 effector protein that links membrane trafficking regulation to cytoskeleton assembly during development.