Figure 1.

Two different conformations of the Arp2/3 complex: On the left, the Arp2/3 complex is in an inactive condition, with Arp2 and Arp3 separated by a large distance.^[5] When NPFs like N-WASP, WAVE, and WASH activate the Arp2/3 complex, it experiences conformational changes in which the Arp2 and Arp3 subunits approach each other and finally become the active Arp2/3 complex on the right. Arp2/3 = actin-related protein 2/3, JMY = junctionmediating and regulatory protein, NPF = Nucleation Promoting Factor, N-WASP = neural-WASP famly verprolin-homologous protein family, WASH = WASP and Scar homologue, WAVE = WASP famly verprolin-homologous protein family, WHAMM = WASP homolog associated with actin, membranes and microtubules.