WDR1
WDR1, also known as AIP1, is a WD repeat protein that works with ADF/cofilin family proteins to disassemble actin filaments. It contributes to cell migration, cytokinesis, cell junction organisation and tissue development. Browse Assay Genie's current range of WDR1 research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
WDR1 (WD repeat domain 1) induces the disassembly of actin filaments in conjunction with ADF/cofilin family proteins, and it enhances cofilin-mediated actin severing. Through this activity it influences how cells move and change shape. It restricts lamellipodial membrane protrusions during chemotactic cell migration, is involved in cytokinesis, and contributes to the generation and maintenance of cortical tension.
The WDR1 protein is a member of the WD repeat AIP1 family and contains 9 WD repeats. WD repeats are domains of roughly 30 to 40 amino acids with several conserved residues, usually ending in a trp-asp at the C-terminal end, and they mediate protein-protein interactions. UniProt places the protein in the cytoplasm and cytoskeleton, in podosomes, and at cell junctions. The WDR1 gene has two reported transcript variants that encode different isoforms. HGNC lists it in the WD repeat domain containing group and among the microRNA protein coding host genes.
Studies of WDR1 function extend beyond single cells to tissues. It is involved in myocardium sarcomere organisation and is required for cardiomyocyte growth and maintenance. It also participates in megakaryocyte maturation and platelet shedding. In epithelia, WDR1 is required for establishing planar cell polarity during follicular epithelium development and for cell shape changes during that process, apparently in cooperation with CFL1 and/or DSTN/ADF. It also helps assemble and maintain epithelial apical cell junctions and organise the perijunctional actomyosin belt. Mouse and rat both have a Wdr1 ortholog.
WDR1 acts with ADF/cofilin proteins to disassemble actin filaments and enhance cofilin-mediated severing, so it is a core factor in actin turnover.
WDR1 restricts lamellipodial protrusions during chemotactic migration and is involved in cytokinesis, making it relevant to studies of cell motility and division.
WDR1 is involved in sarcomere organisation and cardiomyocyte maintenance, and in megakaryocyte maturation and platelet shedding.
WDR1 is needed for planar cell polarity, apical cell junction assembly and perijunctional actomyosin belt organisation in epithelia.
WDR1 induces disassembly of actin filaments together with ADF/cofilin family proteins and enhances cofilin-mediated actin severing. It is involved in cytokinesis, chemotactic cell migration, cortical tension, sarcomere organisation, megakaryocyte maturation and the maintenance of epithelial apical cell junctions.
AIP1 is an alias of WDR1, which HGNC names WD repeat domain 1. UniProt calls the protein WD repeat-containing protein 1 and places it in the WD repeat AIP1 family. Two transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been reported for the gene.
Mouse and rat both have a Wdr1 ortholog of the human gene. The sourced functions in actin disassembly and epithelial planar cell polarity are shared across the annotation, but check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
Other WD repeat domain proteins that share the WD repeat protein-interaction fold with WDR1.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt O75083; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.