| 2021 |
ALS-linked PFN1 variants G118V and M114T show differential binding to select formin proteins compared to wild-type PFN1, and both variants augment formin-mediated actin assembly relative to WT PFN1. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed mutation-induced changes in internal dynamic couplings within an alpha helix of PFN1 that directly contacts both actin and polyproline. In contrast, C71G is more severely destabilized, resulting in reduced protein expression and loss-of-function in actin assembly. |
Unbiased proteomics (differential interactome), in vitro actin assembly assays, molecular dynamics simulations, cell-based expression assays |
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America |
High |
34074767
|
| 2016 |
Transgenic mice expressing ALS-associated mutant PFN1 (C71G), but not wild-type PFN1, develop progressive motor neuron loss, muscle weakness, and paralysis. Mutant PFN1 forms insoluble aggregates, disrupts cytoskeletal structure, and elevates ubiquitin and p62/SQSTM1 levels in motor neurons. Acceleration of motor neuron degeneration precedes accumulation of mutant PFN1 aggregates, indicating aggregation is not the trigger of disease onset. |
Transgenic mouse model (gain-of-function), histopathology, immunostaining, behavioral testing |
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America |
High |
27681617
|
| 2019 |
PFN1 interaction with VASP is promoted by cell-substrate adhesion and requires downregulation of PKA activity. PKA-mediated phosphorylation of PFN1 at Ser137 negatively regulates the PFN1-VASP interaction and contributes to anti-migratory effects of cAMP/PKA agonists. |
Mutagenesis in overexpression and knockdown-rescue settings, co-immunoprecipitation, cell migration assays |
The Journal of biological chemistry |
High |
30814249
|
| 2024 |
ALS-linked mutant PFN1 (G118V, M114T, C71G) expressed in iPSC-derived microglia causes lipid dysmetabolism, autophagy dysregulation, and deficient phagocytosis. Mutant PFN1 exhibits enhanced binding affinity for PI3P (a signaling molecule in autophagic/endocytic processing). Rapamycin rescued phagocytic dysfunction, implicating a gain-of-toxic function in autophagic and endo-lysosomal pathways. |
iPSC-derived microglia (iMGs), phagocytosis assays, PI3P binding assays, rapamycin rescue experiments, lipidomics |
Nature communications |
High |
38509062
|
| 2022 |
The lncRNA UCA1 physically binds USP14 (a deubiquitinating enzyme) and functions as a scaffold to recruit USP14 to PFN1, inhibiting ubiquitination-dependent degradation of PFN1 and prolonging its half-life, thereby activating the RhoA/ROCK pathway and inducing ROS production in endothelial cells. |
Coculture system, exosome extraction, co-immunoprecipitation, ubiquitination assays, ROS measurement |
Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity |
Medium |
36160709
|
| 2021 |
SH3BGRL promotes degradation of PFN1 by accelerating translation of the E3 ubiquitin ligase STUB1 (via interaction with ribosomal proteins) and/or enhancing the interaction of PFN1 with STUB1, leading to proteasomal degradation of PFN1. Loss of PFN1 activates AKT, NF-kB, and WNT signaling pathways, while forced PFN1 expression neutralizes SH3BGRL-induced metastasis with PTEN upregulation and PI3K-AKT inactivation. |
Co-immunoprecipitation, protein degradation assays, ribosome interaction studies, in vitro and in vivo tumor models |
Oncogene |
Medium |
34331014
|
| 2022 |
PFN1 mutation M114T destabilizes the protein and deregulates the RAB9-mediated alternative autophagy pathway involved in clearance of damaged mitochondria. Motor neurons expressing M114T mutant PFN1 show mitochondrial abnormalities in vivo. |
Patient lymphoblasts, transfected cell lines, lentiviral transgenic mice, autophagy pathway marker analysis, mitochondrial morphology assessment |
International journal of molecular sciences |
Medium |
35628504
|
| 2017 |
In a Drosophila model, expression of wild-type human PFN1 in motor neurons increases ghost boutons, active zone density, F-actin content, and filopodia formation at larval NMJs. ALS-causative PFN1 mutants display less pronounced NMJ phenotypes, suggesting partial loss of function in promoting NMJ remodeling and actin polymerization. |
Drosophila transgenic model, NMJ morphology analysis, locomotion and lifespan assays |
Human molecular genetics |
Medium |
28379367
|
| 2020 |
A frameshift mutation (D107Rfs*3) in PFN1 causing truncation of the C-terminal portion of the protein leads to a loss of function of profilin 1 activity. In vitro osteoclastogenesis from mutation carriers showed higher numbers of osteoclasts with PDB-like features, and PFN1 silencing in murine bone marrow-derived monocytes recapitulated the phenotype, suggesting enhanced osteoclast motility and actin ring formation. |
Whole exome sequencing, in vitro osteoclastogenesis from PBMCs, PFN1 silencing in murine bone marrow-derived monocytes |
The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism |
Medium |
32392277
|
| 2022 |
PFN1 inhibits myogenic differentiation of bovine skeletal muscle satellite cells via binding to Cdc42 (identified by co-immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry). PFN1 activates Cdc42, which increases phosphorylation of PAK, which in turn activates JNK phosphorylation, and both PAK and JNK are inhibitors of myogenic differentiation. |
Immunoprecipitation combined with mass spectrometry, kinase phosphorylation assays, overexpression/knockdown experiments |
Cells |
Medium |
36291059
|
| 2020 |
Detergent-insoluble PFN1 inclusions are the first detected pathology in otherwise asymptomatic transgenic rats expressing mutant human PFN1 (C71G), preceding motor neuron loss and muscle atrophy, suggesting protein aggregation is involved in the neurodegeneration. |
Human genomic DNA transgenic rats, detergent fractionation, histopathology, behavioral testing |
Journal of neurochemistry |
Medium |
32754913
|
| 2023 |
Intramuscular administration of detergent-insoluble materials from paralyzed mutant PFN1 transgenic rats accelerated development of PFN1 inclusions and ALS-like phenotypes in asymptomatic recipient mutant PFN1 rats (seeding effect). Pathogenic PFN1 exhibited enhanced affinity for molecular chaperone DNAJB6, leading to sequestration of DNAJB6 within protein inclusions. |
Intrinsic seeding experiment in transgenic rats, detergent fractionation, co-immunoprecipitation for DNAJB6 interaction |
Frontiers in neuroscience |
Medium |
37817804
|
| 2026 |
FBXL4 (an F-box protein) interacts with PFN1 and promotes K48-linked ubiquitination of PFN1 at lysine 70, leading to its proteasomal degradation and preservation of sarcomeric integrity in cardiomyocytes. Loss of FBXL4 leads to PFN1 accumulation and cardiac dysfunction. |
Co-immunoprecipitation, ubiquitination site mapping (K70), AAV-mediated knockdown/overexpression in mouse hearts, hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes |
Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) |
High |
41589689
|
| 2026 |
PFN1 interacts with KSHV helicase ORF44, and the E3 ubiquitin ligase TRIM37 facilitates polyubiquitination of PFN1 at lysine 116. This ubiquitinated PFN1 serves as a recognition motif for the cargo receptor SQSTM1/p62, leading to autophagic degradation of ORF44 and inhibition of KSHV lytic replication. |
Co-immunoprecipitation, ubiquitination site mapping (K116), autophagy-lysosomal degradation assays, KSHV replication assays |
Autophagy |
Medium |
42260986
|
| 2025 |
A PFN1 L112P mutation in osteoclasts leads to enhanced actin ring-like structures at bone surfaces without affecting NF-κB activation, suggesting a specific role of PFN1 in actin ring formation during osteoclast function independent of NF-κB signaling. |
Heterozygous knock-in mouse model (Pfn1 L112P), osteoclast culture, immunofluorescence for actin rings, NF-κB activation assays |
The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism |
Medium |
40458045
|
| 2024 |
Oleic acid increases acetylation of PFN1 and promotes prostate cancer cell migration/invasion with enhanced PFN1 and FLNA localization to the leading edge. EPA decreases PFN1 acetylation and impedes lamellipodia/filopodia formation by reducing PFN1 localization to the leading edge. |
Global acetylome profiling, immunofluorescence, cell migration/invasion assays |
Proteomics |
Low |
38430206
|
| 2019 |
Computational and simulation analysis of the PFN1–polyproline-10 binding interface confirmed that residues W3, H133, and S137 of PFN1 form favorable hydrogen bonds with polyproline-10, consistent with crystallographic binding structures and suggesting a zipping process during binding. |
Umbrella sampling (PMF), molecular dynamics simulations, steered molecular dynamics |
The Journal of chemical physics |
Low |
30621420
|
| 2015 |
Nicotine induces PFN1 overexpression in mouse elongated spermatids via hypomethylation of the Pfn1 promoter, leading to increased actin polymerization and elevated sperm motility. |
2D gel electrophoresis, mass spectrometry, bisulfite sequencing (promoter methylation), sperm motility analysis |
Andrology |
Low |
26311342
|