Microtubules govern actin network remodeling in a wide range of biological processes, yet the mechanisms underlying this cytoskeletal crosstalk have remained obscure. Here we used single-molecule fluorescence microscopy to show that the microtubule plus-end associated protein CLIP-170 binds tightly to formins to accelerate actin filament elongation. Furthermore, we observed mDia1 dimers and CLIP-170 dimers co-tracking growing filament ends for minutes. CLIP-170-mDia1 complexes promoted actin polymerization approximately 18 times faster than free barbed end growth, while simultaneously enhancing protection from capping protein. We used a microtubule-actin dynamics co-reconstitution system to observe CLIP-170-mDia1 complexes being recruited to growing microtubule ends by EB1. The complexes triggered rapid growth of actin filaments that remained attached to the microtubule surface. These activities of CLIP-170 were required in primary neurons for normal dendritic morphology. Thus, our results reveal a cellular mechanism whereby growing microtubule plus-ends direct rapid actin assembly.

Highlights d Global profiling of mRNA decay pathways and aberrant translation events in mESCs d XRN1 mediates mRNA turnover, whereas SKIV2L acts widely in translation surveillance d AVEN interacts with ribosomes and the Ski complex and counteracts ribosome stalling d Histone mRNAs, uORFs, and small ORFs are key targets of SKIV2L and AVEN

TRIM71/LIN-41, a phylogenetically conserved regulator of development, controls stem cell fates. Mammalian TRIM71 exhibits both RNA-binding and protein ubiquitylation activities, but the functional contribution of either activity and relevant primary targets remain poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that TRIM71 shapes the transcriptome of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) predominantly through its RNA-binding activity. We reveal that TRIM71 binds targets through 3 ′ untranslated region (UTR) hairpin motifs and that it acts predominantly by target degradation. TRIM71 mutations implicated in etiogenesis of human congenital hydrocephalus impair target silencing. We identify a set of primary targets consistently regulated in various human and mouse cell lines, including MBNL1 (Muscleblind-like protein 1). MBNL1 promotes cell differentiation through regulation of alternative splicing, and we demonstrate that TRIM71 promotes embryonic splicing patterns through MBNL1 repression. Hence, repression of MBNL1-dependent alternative splicing may contribute to TRIM71's function in regulating stem cell fates.

Combining single-cell RNA-seq of mouse ESCs and NPCs, lincRNA gene deletions, conditional RNA depletion, and nuclear exosome profiling distinguishes RNA-dependent and RNA-independent lincRNA gene activities.