A RhoGAP controls apical actin polymerization by inhibiting formin in Arabidopsis pollen tubes

Formin is an important player in promoting apical actin polymerization in pollen tubes, but the mechanism regulating its activity remains unknown. We here identify REN1, a Rho GTPase-activating protein, as a negative regulator of formins in Arabidopsis pollen tubes. Specifically, we found that depletion of REN1 promotes apical actin polymerization and increases the amount of filamentous actin in pollen tubes. Interestingly, the effect of REN1 loss of function phenocopies the effect of formin gain of function, as it causes the formation of supernumerary membrane-derived actin bundles, which leads to tube swelling and membrane deformation. Importantly, inhibition of formins suppresses the phenotypic defects in ren1 mutant pollen tubes. We further demonstrate that REN1 physically interacts with the Arabidopsis formin protein AtFH5, predominantly with the C terminus, and inhibits the ability of AtFH5 to nucleate and assemble actin in vitro. Depletion of AtFH5 partially suppresses the phenotype in ren1 mutant pollen tubes, demonstrating that REN1 regulates apical actin polymerization at least partially through inhibiting AtFH5. We thus uncover a novel mechanism regulating formins and actin polymerization in plants.