Novel configuration of a myosin II transient intermediate analogue revealed by quick-freeze deep-etch replica electron microscopy

2013 ◽  
Vol 450 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoshitaka Kimori ◽  
Norio Baba ◽  
Eisaku Katayama
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Catalytic Domain ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Power Stroke ◽  
Structural Analogue ◽  
Unusual Structure ◽  
Mapping Procedure ◽  
Cross Bridge ◽  
Lever Arm ◽  
Transient Intermediate

In the present paper, we described our attempt to characterize the rough three-dimensional features of the structural analogue of the key intermediate of myosin's cross-bridge cycle. Using quick-freeze deep-etch replica electron microscopy, we observed that actin-attached myosin during in vitro sliding was bent superficially as postulated by the conventional hypothesis, but in the opposite direction of the putative pre-power-stroke configuration, as for ADP·Vi (inorganic vanadate)-bound myosin. We searched for the conformational species with a similar appearance and found that SH1–SH2 (thiols 1 and 2)-cross-linked myosin is a good candidate. To characterize such small asymmetric structures, we employed a new pattern-recognition procedure that accommodates the metal-replicated samples. In this method, the best-matched views of the target microscopic images were selected from a comprehensive set of images simulated from known atomic co-ordinates of relevant proteins. Together with effective morphological filtering, we could define the conformational species and the view angles of the catalytic domain and the lever arm cropped from averaged images of disulfide-cross-linked myosin. Whereas the catalytic domain of the new conformer closely resembled the pPDM (N,N′-p-phenylenedimaleimide)-treated, but SH2 Lys705-cross-linked, structure (PDB code 1L2O), a minor product of the same cross-linking reaction, the lever arm projected differently. Using separately determined view angles of the catalytic domain and the lever arm, we built a model of disulfide-cross-linked myosin. Further combination with the ‘displacement-mapping’ procedure enabled us to reconstruct the global three-dimensional envelope of the unusual structure whose lever arm orientation is compatible with our reports on the actin-sliding cross-bridge structure. Assuming this conformer as the structural analogue of the transient intermediate during actin sliding, the power stroke of the lever arm might accompany the reversal of the disorganized SH1 helix.

scholarly journals The structural basis of muscle contraction

2000 ◽  
Vol 355 (1396) ◽  
pp. 419-431 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth C. Holmes ◽  
Michael A. Geeves
Keyword(s):  
Active Site ◽  
Smooth Muscle Actin ◽  
Actin Binding ◽  
Power Stroke ◽  
Structural Basis ◽  
Myosin Filament ◽  
Muscle Actin ◽  
Phosphate Release ◽  
Cross Bridge ◽  
Lever Arm

The myosin cross–bridge exists in two conformations, which differ in the orientation of a long lever arm. Since the lever arm undergoes a 60° rotation between the two conformations, which would lead to a displacement of the myosin filament of about 11nm, the transition between these two states has been associated with the elementary ‘power stroke’ of muscle. Moreover, this rotation is coupled with changes in the active site (CLOSED to OPEN), which probably enable phosphate release. The transition CLOSED to OPEN appears to be brought about by actin binding. However, kinetics shows that the binding of myosin to actin is a two–step process which affects both ATP and ADP affinity and vice versa. The structural basis of these effects is only partially explained by the presently known conformers of myosin. Therefore, additional states of the myosin cross–bridge should exist. Indeed, cryoelectron microscopy has revealed other angles of the lever arm induced by ADP binding to a smooth muscle actin–myosin complex.

scholarly journals The structure of the rigor complex and its implications for the power stroke

2004 ◽  
Vol 359 (1452) ◽  
pp. 1819-1828 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. C. Holmes ◽  
D. R. Trentham ◽  
R. Simmons ◽  
K. C. Holmes ◽  
R. R. Schröder ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crystal Structure ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Model System ◽  
Actin Binding ◽  
Power Stroke ◽  
Dimensional Electron ◽  
Myosin V ◽  
Cross Bridge ◽  
Dimensional Reconstruction ◽  
Skeletal Myosin

Decorated actin provides a model system for studying the strong interaction between actin and myosin. Cryo–energy–filter electron microscopy has recently yielded a 14 Å resolution map of rabbit skeletal actin decorated with chicken skeletal S1. The crystal structure of the cross–bridge from skeletal chicken myosin could not be fitted into the three–dimensional electron microscope map without some deformation. However, a newly published structure of the nucleotide–free myosin V cross–bridge, which is apparently already in the strong binding form, can be fitted into the three–dimensional reconstruction without distortion. This supports the notion that nucleotide–free myosin V is an excellent model for strongly bound myosin and allows us to describe the actin–myosin interface. In myosin V the switch 2 element is closed although the lever arm is down (post–power stroke). Therefore, it appears likely that switch 2 does not open very much during the power stroke. The myosin V structure also differs from the chicken skeletal myosin structure in the nucleotide–binding site and the degree of bending of the backbone ß–sheet. These suggest a mechanism for the control of the power stroke by strong actin binding.

Visualizing myosin's power stroke in muscle contraction

2000 ◽  
Vol 113 (20) ◽  
pp. 3551-3562
Author(s):  
M.C. Reedy
Keyword(s):  
Catalytic Domain ◽  
Insect Flight ◽  
Actin Binding ◽  
Power Stroke ◽  
X Ray Diffraction ◽  
Motor Action ◽  
Arm Swing ◽  
Lever Arm ◽  
Total Interaction

The long-standing swinging crossbridge or lever arm hypothesis for the motor action of myosin heads finds support in recent results from 3-D tomograms of insect flight muscle (IFM) fast frozen during active contraction and from both fluorescence polarization and X-ray diffraction during rapid stretches or releases of isometrically contracting fibers. The latter provide direct evidence for lever arm movements synchronous with force changes. Rebuilding the atomic model of nucleotide-free subfragment 1 (S1) to fit fast-frozen, active IFM crossbridges suggests a two-stage power stroke in which the catalytic domain rolls on actin from weak to strong binding; this is followed by a 5-nm lever arm swing of the light chain domain, which gives a total interaction distance of approx. 12 nm. Comparison of S1 crystal structures with in situ myosin heads suggests that actin binding may be necessary in order to view the full repertoire of myosin motor action. The differing positions of the catalytic domains of actin-attached myosin heads in contracting IFM suggest that both the actin-myosin binding energy and the hydrolysis of ATP may be used to cock the crossbridge and drive the power stroke.

Structural organization of escherichia coli ribosomes as determined by immuno electron microscopy

1978 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 166-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Stöffler ◽  
R.W. Bald ◽  
J. Dieckhoff ◽  
H. Eckhard ◽  
R. Lührmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Ribosomal Proteins ◽  
Structural Organization ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Ribosomal Subunit ◽  
Spatial Arrangement ◽  
Small Subunit ◽  
Antibody Binding ◽  
Immuno Electron Microscopy

A central step towards an understanding of the structure and function of the Escherichia coli ribosome, a large multicomponent assembly, is the elucidation of the spatial arrangement of its 54 proteins and its three rRNA molecules. The structural organization of ribosomal components has been investigated by a number of experimental approaches. Specific antibodies directed against each of the 54 ribosomal proteins of Escherichia coli have been performed to examine antibody-subunit complexes by electron microscopy. The position of the bound antibody, specific for a particular protein, can be determined; it indicates the location of the corresponding protein on the ribosomal surface.The three-dimensional distribution of each of the 21 small subunit proteins on the ribosomal surface has been determined by immuno electron microscopy: the 21 proteins have been found exposed with altogether 43 antibody binding sites. Each one of 12 proteins showed antibody binding at remote positions on the subunit surface, indicating highly extended conformations of the proteins concerned within the 30S ribosomal subunit; the remaining proteins are, however, not necessarily globular in shape (Fig. 1).

Three-Dimensional Visualization of the T-System of Frog Muscle Using High Voltage Electron Microscopy and a Lanthanum Stain

1977 ◽  
Vol 35 ◽  
pp. 570-571 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lee D. Peachey ◽  
Clara Franzini-Armstrong
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
High Voltage ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Biological Tissues ◽  
High Voltage Electron Microscopy ◽  
Transverse Tubular System ◽  
Peroxidase Reaction ◽  
Voltage Electron ◽  
High Voltage Electron ◽  
T System

The effective study of biological tissues in thick slices of embedded material by high voltage electron microscopy (HVEM) requires highly selective staining of those structures to be visualized so that they are not hidden or obscured by other structures in the image. A tilt pair of micrographs with subsequent stereoscopic viewing can be an important aid in three-dimensional visualization of these images, once an appropriate stain has been found. The peroxidase reaction has been used for this purpose in visualizing the T-system (transverse tubular system) of frog skeletal muscle by HVEM (1). We have found infiltration with lanthanum hydroxide to be particularly useful for three-dimensional visualization of certain aspects of the structure of the T- system in skeletal muscles of the frog. Specifically, lanthanum more completely fills the lumen of the tubules and is denser than the peroxidase reaction product.

Electron Microscopy of Cytoplasmic Contractile Proteins

1978 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 606-614 ◽  
Author(s):  
T.D. Pollard ◽  
P. Maupin
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Actin Filaments ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Uranyl Acetate ◽  
Contractile Proteins ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
X Ray Diffraction ◽  
Cytoplasmic Matrix ◽  
Computer Image Processing ◽  
Nonmuscle Cells

In this paper we review some of the contributions that electron microscopy has made to the analysis of actin and myosin from nonmuscle cells. We place particular emphasis upon the limitations of the ultrastructural techniques used to study these cytoplasmic contractile proteins, because it is not widely recognized how difficult it is to preserve these elements of the cytoplasmic matrix for electron microscopy. The structure of actin filaments is well preserved for electron microscope observation by negative staining with uranyl acetate (Figure 1). In fact, to a resolution of about 3nm the three-dimensional structure of actin filaments determined by computer image processing of electron micrographs of negatively stained specimens (Moore et al., 1970) is indistinguishable from the structure revealed by X-ray diffraction of living muscle.

Scanning and Transmission Microscopy of Nematocyst Batteries in Epitheliomuscular Cells of Hydra

1971 ◽  
Vol 29 ◽  
pp. 410-411 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane A. Westfall ◽  
S. Yamataka ◽  
Paul D. Enos
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Scanning Electron Microscopy ◽  
Osmium Tetroxide ◽  
External Surface ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Surface Structures ◽  
Transmission Microscopy ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Freeze Dried ◽  
Scanning Electron

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) provides three dimensional details of external surface structures and supplements ultrastructural information provided by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Animals composed of watery jellylike tissues such as hydras and other coelenterates have not been considered suitable for SEM studies because of the difficulty in preserving such organisms in a normal state. This study demonstrates 1) the successful use of SEM on such tissue, and 2) the unique arrangement of batteries of nematocysts within large epitheliomuscular cells on tentacles of Hydra littoralis.Whole specimens of Hydra were prepared for SEM (Figs. 1 and 2) by the fix, freeze-dry, coat technique of Small and Màrszalek. The specimens were fixed in osmium tetroxide and mercuric chloride, freeze-dried in vacuo on a prechilled 1 Kg brass block, and coated with gold-palladium. Tissues for TEM (Figs. 3 and 4) were fixed in glutaraldehyde followed by osmium tetroxide. Scanning micrographs were taken on a Cambridge Stereoscan Mark II A microscope at 10 KV and transmission micrographs were taken on an RCA EMU 3G microscope (Fig. 3) or on a Hitachi HU 11B microscope (Fig. 4).

Scanning Electron Microscopy and Electron Microprobe Analysis of Malignant Cell Cultures

1968 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
pp. 164-165
Author(s):  
R. I. Johnsson-Hegyeli ◽  
A. F. Hegyeli ◽  
D. K. Landstrom ◽  
W. C. Lane
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Scanning Electron Microscopy ◽  
Cell Cultures ◽  
Electron Microprobe ◽  
Microprobe Analysis ◽  
Electron Microprobe Analysis ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Malignant Cell ◽  
Interference Microscopy ◽  
Scanning Electron

Last year we reported on the use of reflected light interference microscopy (RLIM) for the direct color photography of the surfaces of living normal and malignant cell cultures without the use of replicas, fixatives, or stains. The surface topography of living cells was found to follow underlying cellular structures such as nuceloli, nuclear membranes, and cytoplasmic organelles, making possible the study of their three-dimensional relationships in time. The technique makes possible the direct examination of cells grown on opaque as well as transparent surfaces. The successful in situ electron microprobe analysis of the elemental composition and distribution within single tissue culture cells was also reported.This paper deals with the parallel and combined use of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the two previous techniques in a study of living and fixed cancer cells. All three studies can be carried out consecutively on the same experimental specimens without disturbing the cells or their structural relationships to each other and the surface on which they are grown. KB carcinoma cells were grown on glass coverslips in closed Leighto tubes as previously described. The cultures were photographed alive by means of RLIM, then fixed with a fixative modified from Sabatini, et al (1963).

High-voltage electron microscopy of maxillary gland of spirochete-infected brine shrimp: lesion of efferent tubule

1988 ◽  
Vol 46 ◽  
pp. 362-363
Author(s):  
G. E. Tyson ◽  
M. J. Song
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
High Voltage ◽  
Brine Shrimp ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
High Voltage Electron Microscopy ◽  
Voltage Electron ◽  
High Voltage Electron ◽  
Infected Adult

Natural populations of the brine shrimp, Artemia, may possess spirochete- infected animals in low numbers. The ultrastructure of Artemia's spirochete has been described by conventional transmission electron microscopy. In infected shrimp, spirochetal cells were abundant in the blood and also occurred intra- and extracellularly in the three organs examined, i.e. the maxillary gland (segmental excretory organ), the integument, and certain muscles The efferent-tubule region of the maxillary gland possessed a distinctive lesion comprised of a group of spirochetes, together with numerous small vesicles, situated in a cave-like indentation of the base of the tubule epithelium. in some instances the basal lamina at a lesion site was clearly discontinuous. High-voltage electron microscopy has now been used to study lesions of the efferent tubule, with the aim of understanding better their three-dimensional structure.Tissue from one maxillary gland of an infected, adult, female brine shrimp was used for HVEM study.

Confocal laser microscopy of impregnated central nervous system tissue

1988 ◽  
Vol 46 ◽  
pp. 94-95
Author(s):  
J.N. Turner ◽  
M. Siemens ◽  
D. Szarowski ◽  
D.N. Collins
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
Confocal Laser ◽  
High Contrast ◽  
Central Nervous System Tissue ◽  
Tissue Samples ◽  
Reflected Light

A classic preparation of central nervous system tissue (CNS) is the Golgi procedure popularized by Cajal. The method is partially specific as only a few cells are impregnated with silver chromate usualy after osmium post fixation. Samples are observable by light (LM) or electron microscopy (EM). However, the impregnation is often so dense that structures are masked in EM, and the osmium background may be undesirable in LM. Gold toning is used for a subtle but high contrast EM preparation, and osmium can be omitted for LM. We are investigating these preparations as part of a study to develop correlative LM and EM (particularly HVEM) methodologies in neurobiology. Confocal light microscopy is particularly useful as the impregnated cells have extensive three-dimensional structure in tissue samples from one to several hundred micrometers thick. Boyde has observed similar preparations in the tandem scanning reflected light microscope (TSRLM).

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