Nuclear actin regulates cell proliferation and migration via inhibition of SRF and TEAD

Actin dynamics regulate cell behaviour in response to physiological signals. Here we demonstrate a novel role for nuclear actin in inhibiting cell proliferation and migration. We demonstrate that physiological signals that elevate cAMP, which is anti-mitogenic in vascular smooth muscle cells, increases nuclear actin monomer levels. Expression of a nuclear-targeted polymerisation-defective actin mutant (NLS-Actin(R62D)) inhibited proliferation and migration. Preventing nuclear actin monomer accumulation by enhancing its nuclear export or polymerisation reversed the anti-mitogenic and anti-migratory effects of cAMP. Transcriptomic analysis identified repression of proliferation and migration associated genes regulated by serum response factor (SRF) and TEA Domain (TEAD) transcription factors. Accordingly, NLS-Actin(R62D) inhibited SRF and TEAD activity and target gene expression, and these effects were reversed by constitutively-active mutants of the TEAD and SRF co-factors YAP, TAZ and MKL1. In summary, intranuclear actin inhibits proliferation and migration by inhibiting YAP-TEAD and MKL-SRF activity. This mechanism explains the anti-mitogenic and anti-migratory properties of physiological signals that elevate cAMP. SUMMARY: McNeill et al show that increased levels of intranuclear actin monomer inhibit cell proliferation and migration by inhibiting MKL1-SRF and YAP/TAZ-TEAD-dependent gene expression. This mechanism mediates the anti-mitogenic and anti-migratory effects of physiological signals that elevate cyclic-AMP.