Anti-Slingshot-1L (Ser-978), Phosphospecific Antibody

Members of the ADF/cofilin (AC) family are actin-severing proteins that regulate actin remodeling during cell motility. Regulation of cofilin activity can occur through serine phosphorylation and dephosphorylation. Activation of cofilin kinases, LIMK1 or LIMK2, leads to phosphorylation of cofilin at serine 3. This phosphorylation disrupts cofilin binding to actin in vitro and in vivo. Multiple phosphatases, Slingshot, PP1, PP2A, PP2B, and chronophin can dephosphorylate Ser-3 and activate actin binding. In mammals, the Slingshot family includes SSH1L, SSH2L, and SSH3L. SSH1L and SSH2L mRNAs are widely expressed, while SSH3L has high expression in epithelial tissues. SSH1L can associate with F-actin and may be the major phosphatase regulating cofilin activity. Disruption of SSH1L expression using RNA interference impairs directional cell migration. Phosphorylation of SSH1L at Ser-937 and Ser-978 by PKD leads to association with 14-3-3, sequestration of the phosphatase to the cytoplasm, and reduces cell migration. Thus, Slingshot phosphatases may be critical for regulating cytoskeletal protein activity and cell motility.