Myosin VI: a multifunctional motor

2004 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 685-688 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Lister ◽  
R. Roberts ◽  
S. Schmitz ◽  
M. Walker ◽  
J. Trinick ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Optical Tweezers ◽  
Actin Filaments ◽  
Biochemical Characterization ◽  
Force Transducer ◽  
The Other ◽  
Myosin Vi ◽  
Coated Pits ◽  
Binding Partners ◽  
Alternative Approach

Myosin VI moves towards the minus end of actin filaments unlike all the other myosins so far studied, suggesting that it has unique properties and functions. Myosin VI is present in clathrin-coated pits and vesicles, in membrane ruffles and in the Golgi complex, indicating that it has a wide variety of functions in the cell. To investigate the cellular roles of myosin VI, we have identified a variety of myosin VI-binding partners and characterized their interactions. As an alternative approach, we have studied the in vitro properties of intact myosin VI. Previous studies assumed that myosin VI existed as a dimer but our biochemical characterization and electron microscopy studies reveal that myosin VI is a monomer. Using an optical tweezers force transducer, we showed that monomeric myosin VI is a non-processive motor with a large working stroke of 18 nm. Potential roles for myosin VI in cells are discussed.

scholarly journals Myosin VI: cellular functions and motor properties

2004 ◽  
Vol 359 (1452) ◽  
pp. 1931-1944 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. C. Holmes ◽  
D. R. Trentham ◽  
R. Simmons ◽  
Rhys Roberts ◽  
Ida Lister ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Optical Tweezers ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Force Transducer ◽  
Myosin Vi ◽  
Cellular Functions ◽  
Electron Microscopic ◽  
Coated Pits ◽  
Microscopic Studies ◽  
Golgi Network

Myosin VI has been localized in membrane ruffles at the leading edge of cells, at the trans–Golgi network compartment of the Golgi complex and in clathrin–coated pits or vesicles, indicating that it functions in a wide variety of intracellular processes. Myosin VI moves along actin filaments towards their minus end, which is the opposite direction to all of the other myosins so far studied (to our knowledge), and is therefore thought to have unique properties and functions. To investigate the cellular roles of myosin VI, we identified various myosin VI binding partners and are currently characterizing their interactions within the cell. As an alternative approach, we have expressed and purified full–length myosin VI and studied its in vitro properties. Previous studies assumed that myosin VI was a dimer, but our biochemical, biophysical and electron microscopic studies reveal that myosin VI can exist as a stable monomer. We observed, using an optical tweezers force transducer, that monomeric myosin VI is a non–processive motor which, despite a relatively short lever arm, generates a large working stroke of 18 nm. Whether monomer and/or dimer forms of myosin VI exist in cells and their possible functions will be discussed.

scholarly journals Basic Characterization of Plant Actin Depolymerizing Factors: A Simplified, Streamlined Guide

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonali Sengupta ◽  
Kanniah Rajasekaran ◽  
Niranjan Baisakh
Keyword(s):  
Ionic Strength ◽  
Actin Filaments ◽  
Actin Dynamics ◽  
Actin Binding ◽  
Actin Monomer ◽  
Oligomeric State ◽  
Binding Partners ◽  
Helical Twist

Abstract Actin depolymerizing factors (ADFs) are small monomeric actin-binding proteins that alter the oligomeric state of cellular actin. Members of the ADF family can bind both the G-actin and F-actin in plants, and their functions are regulated by cellular pH, ionic strength and availability of other binding partners. Actin depolymerization activity is reportedly essential for plant viability. By binding to the ADP-bound form of actin, ADFs severe actin filaments and thereby provide more barbed filament ends for polymerization. They also increase the rate of dissociation of F-actin monomer by changing the helical twist of the actin filament. These two activities together make ADF the major regulator of actin dynamics in plant cell. Therefore, it is essential to measure the binding and depolymerization activity of the plant ADFs. Here, we present a simplified, streamlined step-by-step protocol to quickly measure these important functions of the ADF proteins in vitro.

scholarly journals The Role of Dynamin and Its Binding Partners in Coated Pit Invagination and Scission

2001 ◽  
Vol 152 (2) ◽  
pp. 309-324 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elaine Hill ◽  
Jeroen van der Kaay ◽  
C. Peter Downes ◽  
Elizabeth Smythe
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Sh3 Domain ◽  
Coated Vesicles ◽  
Coated Vesicle ◽  
Vesicle Formation ◽  
Coated Pits ◽  
Binding Partners ◽  
Late Stages

Plasma membrane clathrin-coated vesicles form after the directed assembly of clathrin and the adaptor complex, AP2, from the cytosol onto the membrane. In addition to these structural components, several other proteins have been implicated in clathrin-coated vesicle formation. These include the large molecular weight GTPase, dynamin, and several Src homology 3 (SH3) domain–containing proteins which bind to dynamin via interactions with its COOH-terminal proline/arginine-rich domain (PRD). To understand the mechanism of coated vesicle formation, it is essential to determine the hierarchy by which individual components are targeted to and act in coated pit assembly, invagination, and scission. To address the role of dynamin and its binding partners in the early stages of endocytosis, we have used well-established in vitro assays for the late stages of coated pit invagination and coated vesicle scission. Dynamin has previously been shown to have a role in scission of coated vesicles. We show that dynamin is also required for the late stages of invagination of clathrin-coated pits. Furthermore, dynamin must bind and hydrolyze GTP for its role in sequestering ligand into deeply invaginated coated pits. We also demonstrate that the SH3 domain of endophilin, which binds both synaptojanin and dynamin, inhibits both late stages of invagination and also scission in vitro. This inhibition results from a reduction in phosphoinositide 4,5-bisphosphate levels which causes dissociation of AP2, clathrin, and dynamin from the plasma membrane. The dramatic effects of the SH3 domain of endophilin led us to propose a model for the temporal order of addition of endophilin and its binding partner synaptojanin in the coated vesicle cycle.

scholarly journals Actin filaments elongate from their membrane-associated ends

1981 ◽  
Vol 90 (2) ◽  
pp. 485-494 ◽  
Author(s):  
LG Tilney ◽  
EM Bonder ◽  
DJ DeRosier
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Actin Filament ◽  
Actin Filaments ◽  
The Other ◽  
Dense Material ◽  
Thin Sections ◽  
Vacuole Membrane ◽  
Filament Bundles ◽  
Filament Bundle

In limulus sperm an actin filament bundle 55 mum in length extends from the acrosomal vacuole membrane through a canal in the nucleus and then coils in a regular fashion around the base of the nucleus. The bundle expands systematically from 15 filaments near the acrosomal vacuole to 85 filaments at the basal end. Thin sections of sperm fixed during stages in spermatid maturation reveal that the filament bundle begins to assemble on dense material attached to the acrosomal vacuole membrane. In micrographs fo these early stages in maturation, short bundles are seen extending posteriorly from the dense material. The significance is that these short, developing bundles have about 85 filaments, suggesting that the 85-filament end of the bundle is assembled first. By using filament bundles isolated and incubated in vitro with G actin from muscle, we can determine the end "preferred" for addition of actin monomers during polymerization. The end that would be associated with the acrosomal vacuole membrane, a membrane destined to be continuous with the plasma membrane, is preferred about 10 times over the other, thicker end. Decoration of the newly polymerized portions of the filament bundle with subfragment 1 of myosin reveals that the arrowheads point away from the acrosomal vacuole membrane, as is true of other actin filament bundles attached to membranes. From these observations we conclude that the bundle is nucleated from the dense material associated with the acrosomal vacuole and that monomers are added to the membrane-associated end. As monomers are added at the dense material, the thick first-made end of the filament bundle is pushed down through the nucleus where, upon reaching the base of the nucleus, it coils up. Tapering is brought about by the capping of the peripheral filaments in the bundle.

scholarly journals Competition between two high- and low-affinity protein-binding sites in myosin VI controls its cellular function

2019 ◽  
Vol 295 (2) ◽  
pp. 337-347 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalia Fili ◽  
Yukti Hari-Gupta ◽  
Bjork Aston ◽  
Ália dos Santos ◽  
Rosemarie E. Gough ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Kinetic Properties ◽  
Myosin Vi ◽  
Protein Binding Sites ◽  
Binding Partner ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Binding Partners ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Partner Proteins

Myosin VI is involved in many cellular processes ranging from endocytosis to transcription. This multifunctional potential is achieved through alternative isoform splicing and through interactions of myosin VI with a diverse network of binding partners. However, the interplay between these two modes of regulation remains unexplored. To this end, we compared two different binding partners and their interactions with myosin VI by exploring the kinetic properties of recombinant proteins and their distribution in mammalian cells using fluorescence imaging. We found that selectivity for these binding partners is achieved through a high-affinity motif and a low-affinity motif within myosin VI. These two motifs allow competition among partners for myosin VI. Exploring how this competition affects the activity of nuclear myosin VI, we demonstrate the impact of a concentration-driven interaction with the low-affinity binding partner DAB2, finding that this interaction blocks the ability of nuclear myosin VI to bind DNA and its transcriptional activity in vitro. We conclude that loss of DAB2, a tumor suppressor, may enhance myosin VI–mediated transcription. We propose that the frequent loss of specific myosin VI partner proteins during the onset of cancer leads to a higher level of nuclear myosin VI activity.

The capactins, a class of proteins that cap the ends of actin filaments

1982 ◽  
Vol 299 (1095) ◽  
pp. 263-273 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Skeletal Muscle ◽  
Actin Filament ◽  
Actin Filaments ◽  
Muscle Cells ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
The Other ◽  
Cellular Regulation ◽  
Filament Assembly ◽  
Filament Bundles

A number of proteins that bind specifically to the barbed ends of actin filaments in a cytochalasin-like manner have been purified to various degrees from a variety of muscle and non-muscle cells and tissues. Preliminary evidence also indicates that proteins that interact with the pointed ends of filaments are present in skeletal muscle. Because of their ability to cap one or the other end of an actin filament, we have designated this class of proteins as the ‘capactins’. On the basis of their effect on actin filament assembly and interaction in vitro , we propose that the capactins play important roles in cellular regulation of actin-based cytoskeletal and contractile functions. Our finding that the disappearance of actin filament bundles in virally transformed fibroblasts can be correlated with an increase in capactin activity in the extracts of these cells is consistent with this hypothesis.

BIOMIMETIC MODELS OF THE ACTIN CORTEX

2009 ◽  
Vol 04 (01n02) ◽  
pp. 17-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
TAMÁS HARASZTI ◽  
SIMON SCHULZ ◽  
KAI UHRIG ◽  
RAINER KURRE ◽  
WOUTER ROOS ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Optical Tweezers ◽  
Actin Filaments ◽  
Network Formation ◽  
The Other ◽  
Actin Networks ◽  
Biomimetic Models ◽  
Actin Cortex ◽  
Crosslinking Process ◽  
Holographic Optical Tweezers ◽  
Polystyrene Microparticles

The cytoskeleton is an actively regulated complex network in the cell. One of the most researched components is actin. In our work we developed and tested two microfluidic systems both being applicable to construct quasi 2-dimensional biomimetic actin networks. The first system uses polydimethylsiloxane micropillars, the other polystyrene microparticles held by holographic optical tweezers as anchoring points. Our devices provide actin networks with mesh sizes from a few micrometers up to the order of 10 micrometers. Qualitative analysis shows similar network formation in both systems. Crosslinking was tested using filamin, α-actinin, Ca and Mg ions. The crosslinking process is characterized by a zipping like event, which is limited only by the high stretching modulus of the actin filaments.

Biochemical characterization of some raptor trypanosomes. I. In vitro cultivation and lectin-binding studies

1986 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 189-194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carl E. Kirkpatrick ◽  
Cynthia A. Terway-Thompson
Keyword(s):  
Biochemical Characterization ◽  
Ricinus Communis ◽  
Lectin Binding ◽  
The Other ◽  
In Vitro Cultivation ◽  
Type I ◽  
Binding Studies ◽  
Binding Characteristics ◽  
American Kestrels

Nine trypanosome strains from five species of raptors were cultivated in vitro in a monophasic medium. Two morphologically distinct trypanosomes were observed in culture: those from American kestrels (Falco sparverius) were smaller than the other strains. The two kestrel (KT) trypanosome strains showed in vitro growth kinetics that differed from the larger trypanosomes, and the KT strains, unlike the others, required hemin in the medium for growth. The effectiveness of eight plant lectins to induce the agglutination of cultured trypanosomes was studied as a means of differentiating the various strains. It was found that lectins from Lens culinaris and Ricinus communis (type I) were particularly effective in distinguishing the KT strains from the other raptor trypanosome strains. Based on the results of experiments in which lectin-mediated trypanosome agglutination was inhibited by the addition of various monosaccharides, it is concluded that all of the avian trypanosomes studied express surface methyl α-D-mannoside, D(+)-galactose, and (or) α-lactose. Only the relatively large raptor trypanosome isolates expressed N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, N-acetyl-D-galactosamine, and α-L(−)-fucose on their surfaces. The differences in lectin-binding characteristics between the two morphologic types of raptor trypanosome were as great as those among each of the avian trypanosomes and the mammalian trypanosomatids Leishmania chagasi and Trypanosoma rhodesiense.

scholarly journals Basic Characterization of Plant Actin Depolymerizing Factors: A Simplified, Streamlined Guide

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonali Sengupta ◽  
Kanniah Rajasekaran ◽  
Niranjan Baisakh
Keyword(s):  
Ionic Strength ◽  
Actin Filaments ◽  
Actin Dynamics ◽  
Actin Binding ◽  
Actin Monomer ◽  
Oligomeric State ◽  
Binding Partners ◽  
Helical Twist

Abstract Actin depolymerizing factors (ADFs) are small monomeric actin-binding proteins that alter the oligomeric state of cellular actin. Members of the ADF family can bind both the G-actin and F-actin in plants, and their functions are regulated by cellular pH, ionic strength and availability of other binding partners. Actin depolymerization activity is reportedly essential for plant viability. By binding to the ADP-bound form of actin, ADFs severe actin filaments and thereby provide more barbed filament ends for polymerization. They also increase the rate of dissociation of F-actin monomer by changing the helical twist of the actin filament. These two activities together make ADF the major regulator of actin dynamics in plant cell. Therefore, it is essential to measure the binding and depolymerization activity of the plant ADFs. Here, we present a simplified, streamlined step-by-step protocol to quickly measure these important functions of the ADF proteins in vitro.

scholarly journals Investigations of human myosin VI targeting using optogenetically-controlled cargo loading

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander R. French ◽  
Tobin R. Sosnick ◽  
Ronald S. Rock
Keyword(s):  
Actin Filaments ◽  
Cancer Metastasis ◽  
Broad Class ◽  
Activation Mechanism ◽  
Myosin Vi ◽  
Cargo Protein ◽  
Multiple Protein ◽  
Pointed End

AbstractMyosins play countless critical roles in the cell, each requiring it to be activated at a specific location and time. To control myosin VI with this specificity, we created a novel optogenetic tool for activating myosin VI by fusing the light-sensitive Avena sativa phototropin1 LOV2 domain to a peptide from Dab2 (LOVDab), a myosin VI cargo protein. Our approach harnesses the native targeting and activation mechanism of myosin VI, allowing direct inferences on myosin VI function. LOVDab robustly recruits human full length myosin VI to various organelles in vivo and hinders peroxisome motion in a light-controllable manner. LOVDab also activates myosin VI in an in vitro gliding filament assay. Our data suggest that protein and lipid cargoes cooperate to activate myosin VI, allowing myosin VI to integrate Ca2+, lipid, and protein cargo signals in the cell to deploy in a site-specific manner.Significance StatementMyosins are a broad class of motor proteins that generate force on actin filaments and fulfill contractile, transport, and anchoring roles. Myosin VI, the only myosin to walk toward the pointed end of actin filaments, is implicated in cancer metastasis and deafness. Intriguingly, myosin VI may play both transport and anchoring roles, depending upon where it is activated in the cell. Here we develop an optogenetic tool for studying myosin VI activation with high spatial and temporal resolution. Our approach photoactivates unmodified myosin VI through its native cargo pathway, enabling investigation of motor function and activation partners with minimal perturbation. This approach allows us to detect how and where myosin VI integrates multiple protein and second messenger signals to activate.

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