Coronin Proteins in Cellular Dynamics and Immunology
Summary
Coronin proteins constitute a conserved family of actin-binding WD-repeat proteins that orchestrate cytoskeletal remodelling across diverse cell types. Typically comprising an N-terminal β-propeller domain, a unique central region and a C-terminal coiled-coil motif, coronins regulate the balance between filamentous (F-) and globular (G-) actin by interacting with the Arp2/3 complex, cofilin and other actin modulators. In cellular motility, coronins refine protrusive activity at lamellipodia and filopodia, ensuring directed migration in processes as varied as wound healing, embryonic neural crest guidance and cancer cell invasion. In the immune system, coronin-1A emerges as a linchpin of leukocyte function: it governs T-cell receptor-induced immunological synapse dynamics, controls phagosomal maturation in macrophages and fine-tunes neutrophil degranulation and reactive oxygen species generation. Aberrant coronin expression or mutation underlies human immunodeficiencies, tumour metastasis and host–pathogen interactions, highlighting both fundamental physiological roles and translational potential in immunotherapy, anti-inflammatory strategies and anti-metastatic interventions.
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Coronin Proteins in Cellular Dynamics and Immunology publication trend
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Technical terms
F-actin: Filamentous polymers of actin monomers that form the backbone of lamellipodia, filopodia and stress fibres.
Arp2/3 complex: A seven-subunit actin nucleator that initiates branched filament networks at the leading edge of motile cells.
Rac1: A small GTPase of the Rho family that regulates actin polymerisation and lamellipodial extension.
Guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF): A protein that catalyses the exchange of GDP for GTP on small GTPases, activating them.
Immunological synapse: The organised contact interface between a T lymphocyte and an antigen-presenting cell enabling signal transduction.
Degranulation: The Ca2+-dependent exocytosis of cytotoxic or antimicrobial granules from immune cells such as neutrophils and cytotoxic T cells.
References
- Coronin 1a-mediated F-actin disassembly controls effector function in murine neutrophils. Redox Biology (2025).
- Coronin-1A Links Cytoskeleton Dynamics to TCRαβ-Induced Cell Signaling. PLOS ONE (2008).
- Emerging Functions of Actins and Actin Binding Proteins in Trypanosomatids. Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology (2020).
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