Platelet function at vascular injury sites is tightly regulated through the actin cytoskeleton. The Wiskott–Aldrich syndrome protein-family verprolin-homologous protein (WAVE)-regulatory complex (WRC) activates lamellipodia formation via ARP2/3, initiated by GTP-bound RAC1 interacting with the WRC subunit CYFIP1. The protein FAM49b (Family of Unknown
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Platelet function at vascular injury sites is tightly regulated through the actin cytoskeleton. The Wiskott–Aldrich syndrome protein-family verprolin-homologous protein (WAVE)-regulatory complex (WRC) activates lamellipodia formation via ARP2/3, initiated by GTP-bound RAC1 interacting with the WRC subunit CYFIP1. The protein FAM49b (Family of Unknown Function 49b), also known as CYRI-B (CYFIP-Related RAC Interactor B), has been found to interact with activated RAC1, leading to the negative regulation of the WRC in mammalian cells. To investigate the role of FAM49b in platelet function, we studied platelet-specific
Fam49b−/−-,
Cyfip1−/−-, and
Cyfip1/
Fam49b−/−-mice. Platelet counts and activation of
Fam49b−/− mice were comparable to those of control mice. On fully fibrinogen-coated surfaces,
Fam49b−/−-platelets spread faster with an increased mean projected cell area than control platelets, whereas
Cyfip1/
Fam49b−/−-platelets did not form lamellipodia, phenocopying the
Cyfip1−/−-platelets. However,
Fam49b−/−-platelets often assumed a polarized shape and were more prone to migrate on fibrinogen-coated surfaces. On 2D structured micropatterns, however,
Fam49b−/−-platelets displayed reduced spreading, whereas spreading of
Cyfip1−/−- and
Cyfip1/
Fam49b−/−-platelets was enhanced. In summary, FAM49b contributes to the regulation of morphology and migration of spread platelets, but to exert its inhibitory effect on actin polymerization, the functional WAVE complex must be present.
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