Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein family member 3 (WASF3)

Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein family member 3 (WASF3) is a cytoskeletal regulatory protein belonging to the SCAR/WAVE family, which acts as a key organizer of actin cytoskeleton rearrangement. It links extracellular receptor kinase signals to actin through a multiprotein complex, localizing to the leading edge of motile cells and facilitating lamellipodia formation necessary for cell migration. WASF3 is specifically involved in transmitting signals from tyrosine kinase receptors and small GTPases (such as those activated by PDGF and cytokines), and interacts with the Arp2/3 complex to mediate actin polymerization. Its overexpression is strongly associated with increased cancer cell invasion, epithelial–mesenchymal transition, and metastasis in multiple tumor types. WASF3 is under tight regulatory control by upstream signaling molecules (e.g., PI3K, c-Abl), microRNAs, and protein-protein interactions. Disrupting WASF3 or its regulatory complex is being explored as a strategy for suppressing cancer metastasis

Other names

WAVE3SCAR3BRUSH-1KIAA0900Actin-binding protein WASF3Protein WAVE-3Verprolin homology domain-containing protein 3WASP family Verprolin-homologous protein 3Brush-1

Inhibition of WASF3 function (experimental) reduces cell motility and metastasis, typically by impairing actin cytoskeleton dynamics