Publications

Structure of Arp2/3 complex at a branched actin filament junction resolved by single-particle cryo-electron microscopy.
Ding, B., Narvaez-Ortiz, H. Y., Singh, Y., Hocky, G. M., Chowdhury, S., & Nolen, B. J.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. (2022) 119(22)

Analysis of functional surfaces on the actin nucleation promoting factor Dip1 required for Arp2/3 complex activation and endocytic actin network assembly.
Liu, S.-L., Narvaez-Ortiz, H. Y., Miner, M., Kiemel, J., Oberhelman, N., Watt, A., Wagner, A. R., Luan, Q., Helgeson, L. A., & Nolen, B. J. Journal of Biological Chemistry. (2022) 102019.

Unconcerted conformational changes in Arp2/3 complex integrate multiple activating signals to assemble functional actin networks.Narvaez-Ortiz, H. Y., Nolen, B. J.
Current Biology. (2022) S0960-9822(22)00015-X.

Synergy between Wsp1 and Dip1 may initiate assembly of endocytic actin networks.
Balzer, C.J., James, M.L., Narvaez-Ortiz, H.Y., Helgeson, L.A., Sirotkin, V., Nolen B.J.
eLife. (2020) 9:e60419.

Cryo-EM reveals the transition of Arp2/3 complex from inactive to nucleation-competent state.
Shaaban, M., Chowdhury, S., Nolen B.J.
Nat. Struct. Mol. Biol. (2020) 27(11):1009-1016.

Single-Turnover Activation of Arp2/3 Complex by Dip1 May Balance Nucleation of Linear versus Branched Actin Filaments.
Balzer, C.J., Wagner, A.R., Helgeson, L.A., Nolen B.J.
Curr. Bio.. (2019) 29(19):3331-3338.e7

Dip1 Co-opts Features of Branching Nucleation to Create Linear Actin Filaments that Activate WASP-Bound Arp2/3 Complex.
Balzer, C.J., Wagner, A.R., Helgeson, L.A., Nolen B.J.
Curr. Bio.. (2018) 28(23):3886-3891.e4

Structure of the nucleation-promoting factor SPIN90 bound to the actin filament nucleator Arp2/3 complex.
Luan, Q., Liu, SL., Helgeson, L.A., Nolen B.J.
EMBO J. (2018) 37(22):e100005.

Identification of Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASP) binding sites on the branched actin filament nucleator Arp2/3 complex.
Luan, Q., Zelter, A., MacCoss, M., Davis, T.N., Nolen B.J.
PNAS. (2018) 115(7): E1409-E1418.

Identification of an ATP-controlled allosteric switch that controls actin filament nucleation by Arp2/3 complex.
Rodnick-Smith, M., Liu SL., Balzer, C.J., Luan Q., Nolen B.J.
Nat Commun. (2016) 7:12226.

Role and structural mechanism of WASP-triggered conformational changes in branched actin filament nucleation by Arp2/3 complex.
Rodnick-Smith, M., Luan Q., Liu SL., Nolen B.J.
PNAS. (2016) 113(27): E3834-43.

Interactions with actin monomers, actin filaments, and Arp2/3 complex define the roles of WASP family proteins and cortactin in coordinately regulating branched actin networks.*
Helgeson, L.A, Prendergast, J.G., Wagner, A.R., Rodnick-Smith, M., and Nolen, B.J.
J. Biol. Chem. (2014) 289(42): 28856-28869.
*Chosen as one of the “Best of JBC” in 2014.

WISH/DIP/SPIN90 proteins form a class of Arp2/3 complex activators that function without preformed actin filaments.*
Wagner A.R., Luan Q., Liu S-L., Nolen B.J.
Curr. Bio., (2013) 23(20):1990-8.
*Faculty of 1000 Prime Recommended

Mechanism of synergistic activation of Arp2/3 complex by cortactin and N-WASP.
Helgeson L.A., Nolen B.J.
Elife, (2013) 2: e00884.

Structural basis for regulation of Arp2/3 complex by GMF.*
Luan Q., Nolen B.J. (2013)
Nat. Struct. Mol. Biol. 20(9):1062-8.
*Faculty of 1000 Prime Recommended

Small molecules CK-666 and CK-869 inhibit Arp2/3 complex by blocking an activating conformational change.
Hetrick B., Han M.S., Helgeson L.A., Nolen B.J.
Chem. Biol. (2013) 20(5):701-12.

Insertions within the actin core of actin-related protein 3 (Arp3) modulate branching nucleation by Arp2/3 Complex.
Liu S-L., May J.R., Helgeson L.A., Nolen B.J.
J. Biol. Chem. (2013) 288(1):487-97.

Structural Characterization and Computer-aided Optimization of a Small Molecule Inhibitor of Arp2/3 Complex, a Key Regulator of the Actin Cytoskeleton.
Baggett A.W., Cournia Z., Han M-S., Patargias G., Glass A.C., Liu S-Y., Nolen B.J.
ChemMedChem. 7 (2012) (7): 1286-94.

Mechanism of a concentration-dependent switch between activation and inhibition of ARP2/3 complex by coronin.
Liu S-L, Needham K.M., May J.R., Nolen B.J. 
J. Biol. Chem., (2011) 286 (19): 17039-46.