Exploiting molecular motors as nanomachines: the mechanisms of de novo and re-engineered cytoskeletal motors

ABSTRACTChemical-induced spores of the Gram-negative bacterium Myxococcus xanthus are peptidoglycan (PG)-deficient. It is unclear how these spherical spores germinate into rod-shaped, walled cells without preexisting PG templates. We found that germinating spores first synthesize PG randomly on spherical surfaces. MglB, a GTPase-activating protein, forms a cluster that surveys the status of PG growth and stabilizes at one future cell pole. Following MglB, the Ras family GTPase MglA localizes to the second pole. MglA directs molecular motors to transport the bacterial actin homolog MreB and the Rod PG synthesis complexes away from poles. The Rod system establishes rod-shape by elongating PG at nonpolar regions. Thus, the interaction between GTPase, cytoskeletons and molecular motors provides a mechanism for the de novo establishment of rod-shape in bacteria.SignificanceSpheres and rods are among the most common shapes adopted by walled bacteria, in which the peptidoglycan (PG) cell wall largely determines cell shape. When induced by chemicals, rod-shaped vegetative cells of the Gram-negative bacterium Myxococcus xanthus thoroughly degrade their PG and shrink into spherical spores. As these spores germinate, rod-shaped cells are rebuilt without preexisting templates, which provides a rare opportunity to visualize de novo PG synthesis and bacterial morphogenesis. In this study, we investigated how spherical spores germinate into rods and elucidated a system for rod-shape morphogenesis that includes the Rod PG synthesis system, a GTPase-GAP pair, the MreB cytoskeleton and a molecular motor.

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Establishing rod shape from spherical, peptidoglycan-deficient bacterial spores

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ◽

10.1073/pnas.2001384117 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 117 (25) ◽

pp. 14444-14452

Author(s):

Huan Zhang ◽

Garrett A. Mulholland ◽

Sofiene Seef ◽

Shiwei Zhu ◽

Jun Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Molecular Motors ◽

De Novo ◽

Eukaryotic Cells ◽

Bacterial Spores ◽

Negative Bacterium ◽

Gtpase Activating Protein ◽

Spherical Surfaces ◽

Rod System ◽

The Status ◽

Ras Family

Chemical-induced spores of the Gram-negative bacteriumMyxococcus xanthusare peptidoglycan (PG)-deficient. It is unclear how these spherical spores germinate into rod-shaped, walled cells without preexisting PG templates. We found that germinating spores first synthesize PG randomly on spherical surfaces. MglB, a GTPase-activating protein, forms a cluster that responds to the status of PG growth and stabilizes at one future cell pole. Following MglB, the Ras family GTPase MglA localizes to the second pole. MglA directs molecular motors to transport the bacterial actin homolog MreB and the Rod PG synthesis complexes away from poles. The Rod system establishes rod shape de novo by elongating PG at nonpolar regions. Thus, similar to eukaryotic cells, the interactions between GTPase, cytoskeletons, and molecular motors initiate spontaneous polarization in bacteria.

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Coiled coils and SAH domains in cytoskeletal molecular motors

Biochemical Society Transactions ◽

10.1042/bst0391142 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 39 (5) ◽

pp. 1142-1148 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

Michelle Peckham

Keyword(s):

Molecular Motors ◽

Actin Filaments ◽

Coiled Coil ◽

Coiled Coils ◽

Helical Domain ◽

Cytoskeletal Motors ◽

In Cells

Cytoskeletal motors include myosins, kinesins and dyneins. Myosins move along tracks of actin filaments, whereas kinesins and dyneins move along microtubules. Many of these motors are involved in trafficking cargo in cells. However, myosins are mostly monomeric, whereas kinesins are mostly dimeric, owing to the presence of a coiled coil. Some myosins (myosins 6, 7 and 10) contain an SAH (single α-helical) domain, which was originally thought to be a coiled coil. These myosins are now known to be monomers, not dimers. The differences between SAH domains and coiled coils are described and the potential roles of SAH domains in molecular motors are discussed.

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The Morphology of the Rat Kidney Following Folic Acid Administration

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100067996 ◽

1970 ◽

Vol 28 ◽

pp. 200-201

Author(s):

Aline Byrnes ◽

Elsa E. Ramos ◽

Minoru Suzuki ◽

E.D. Mayfield

Keyword(s):

Folic Acid ◽

De Novo ◽

Specific Activity ◽

Rat Kidney ◽

Present Report ◽

Intracellular Localization ◽

Male Rats ◽

Renal Hypertrophy ◽

Electron Microscopic ◽

Biochemical Alterations

Renal hypertrophy was induced in 100 g male rats by the injection of 250 mg folic acid (FA) dissolved in 0.3 M NaHCO3/kg body weight (i.v.). Preliminary studies of the biochemical alterations in ribonucleic acid (RNA) metabolism of the renal tissue have been reported recently (1). They are: RNA content and concentration, orotic acid-c14 incorporation into RNA and acid soluble nucleotide pool, intracellular localization of the newly synthesized RNA, and the specific activity of enzymes of the de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis pathway. The present report describes the light and electron microscopic observations in these animals. For light microscopy, kidney slices were fixed in formalin, embedded, sectioned, and stained with H & E and PAS.

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Video-microscopic measurement of cell-substratum traction forces generated by locomoting keratocytes

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100146783 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 51 ◽

pp. 188-189

Author(s):

Tim Oliver ◽

Michelle Leonard ◽

Juliet Lee ◽

Akira Ishihara ◽

Ken Jacobson

Keyword(s):

Silicone Rubber ◽

Molecular Motors ◽

Video Frame ◽

Traction Forces ◽

Cell Traction Forces ◽

Latex Beads ◽

Cell Traction ◽

Local Cell ◽

Microscopic Measurement ◽

Kinetics Of

We are using video-enhanced light microscopy to investigate the pattern and magnitude of forces that fish keratocytes exert on flexible silicone rubber substrata. Our goal is a clearer understanding of the way molecular motors acting through the cytoskeleton co-ordinate their efforts into locomotion at cell velocities up to 1 μm/sec. Cell traction forces were previously observed as wrinkles(Fig.l) in strong silicone rubber films by Harris.(l) These forces are now measureable by two independant means.In the first of these assays, weakly crosslinked films are made, into which latex beads have been embedded.(Fig.2) These films report local cell-mediated traction forces as bead displacements in the plane of the film(Fig.3), which recover when the applied force is released. Calibrated flexible glass microneedles are then used to reproduce the translation of individual beads. We estimate the force required to distort these films to be 0.5 mdyne/μm of bead movement. Video-frame analysis of bead trajectories is providing data on the relative localisation, dissipation and kinetics of traction forces.

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Early ossicle growth in the regenerating disc of a brittle star

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100169559 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 52 ◽

pp. 364-365

Author(s):

M. Shlepr ◽

R. L. Turner

Keyword(s):

Cell Membrane ◽

Light Microscopy ◽

De Novo ◽

Current Model ◽

Syncytium Formation ◽

Brittle Star ◽

Intracellular Location ◽

Limited Volume ◽

Tissue Calcification

Calcification in the echinoderms occurs within a limited-volume cavity enclosed by cytoplasmic extensions of the mineral depositing cells, the sclerocytes. The current model of this process maintains that the sheath formed from these cytoplasmic extensions is syncytial. Prior studies indicate that syncytium formation might be dependent on sclerocyte density and not required for calcification. This model further envisions that ossicles formed de novo nucleate and grow intracellularly until the ossicle effectively outgrows the vacuole. Continued ossicle growth occurs within the sheath but external to the cell membrane. The initial intracellular location has been confirmed only for elements of the echinoid tooth.The regenerating aboral disc integument of ophiophragmus filograneus was used to test the current echinoderm calcification model. This tissue is free of calcite fragments, thus avoiding questions of cellular engulfment, and ossicles are formed de novo. The tissue calcification pattern was followed by light microscopy in both living and fixed preparations.

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Arabidopsis 4-COUMAROYL-COA LIGASE 8 contributes to the biosynthesis of the benzenoid ring of coenzyme Q in peroxisomes

Biochemical Journal ◽

10.1042/bcj20190688 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 476 (22) ◽

pp. 3521-3532

Author(s):

Eric Soubeyrand ◽

Megan Kelly ◽

Shea A. Keene ◽

Ann C. Bernert ◽

Scott Latimer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Metabolism ◽

Time Course ◽

Reverse Genetics ◽

De Novo ◽

Coenzyme Q ◽

Control Level ◽

Wild Type ◽

Fluorescent Reporters ◽

Coa Ligase ◽

Peroxisomal Targeting

Plants have evolved the ability to derive the benzenoid moiety of the respiratory cofactor and antioxidant, ubiquinone (coenzyme Q), either from the β-oxidative metabolism of p-coumarate or from the peroxidative cleavage of kaempferol. Here, isotopic feeding assays, gene co-expression analysis and reverse genetics identified Arabidopsis 4-COUMARATE-COA LIGASE 8 (4-CL8; At5g38120) as a contributor to the β-oxidation of p-coumarate for ubiquinone biosynthesis. The enzyme is part of the same clade (V) of acyl-activating enzymes than At4g19010, a p-coumarate CoA ligase known to play a central role in the conversion of p-coumarate into 4-hydroxybenzoate. A 4-cl8 T-DNA knockout displayed a 20% decrease in ubiquinone content compared with wild-type plants, while 4-CL8 overexpression boosted ubiquinone content up to 150% of the control level. Similarly, the isotopic enrichment of ubiquinone's ring was decreased by 28% in the 4-cl8 knockout as compared with wild-type controls when Phe-[Ring-13C6] was fed to the plants. This metabolic blockage could be bypassed via the exogenous supply of 4-hydroxybenzoate, the product of p-coumarate β-oxidation. Arabidopsis 4-CL8 displays a canonical peroxisomal targeting sequence type 1, and confocal microscopy experiments using fused fluorescent reporters demonstrated that this enzyme is imported into peroxisomes. Time course feeding assays using Phe-[Ring-13C6] in a series of Arabidopsis single and double knockouts blocked in the β-oxidative metabolism of p-coumarate (4-cl8; at4g19010; at4g19010 × 4-cl8), flavonol biosynthesis (flavanone-3-hydroxylase), or both (at4g19010 × flavanone-3-hydroxylase) indicated that continuous high light treatments (500 µE m−2 s−1; 24 h) markedly stimulated the de novo biosynthesis of ubiquinone independently of kaempferol catabolism.

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