Gelsolin is a multifunctional regulator of actin filament formation and disassembly (reviewed in Sun et al. 1999; Kwiatkowski 1999; McGough et al. 2003; Silacci et al. 2004). It can bind to the side of an F-actin filament, sever that filament in a nonhydrolytic manner, and cap the fast growing end of one of the resultant fragments. Uncapping can be induced through the binding of specific phospholipids (see chapter by dos Remedios), for example, phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2), to expose the fast growing end of a prenucleated filament.
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Burtnick, L.D., Robinson, R.C. (2008). Gelsolin and Disease. In: dos Remedios, C.G., Chhabra, D. (eds) Actin-Binding Proteins and Disease. Protein Reviews, vol 8. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-71749-4_7
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