scholarly journals Identification and characterization of an actin-binding site of CapZ.

1992 ◽  
Vol 116 (4) ◽  
pp. 923-931 ◽  
Author(s):  
C Hug ◽  
T M Miller ◽  
M A Torres ◽  
J F Casella ◽  
J A Cooper

A mAb (1E5) that binds the COOH-terminal region of the beta subunit of chicken CapZ inhibits the ability of CapZ to bind the barbed ends of actin filaments and nucleate actin polymerization. CapZ prepared as fusion proteins in bacteria or nonfusion proteins by in vitro translation has activity similar to that of CapZ purified from muscle. Deletion of the COOH-terminus of the beta subunit of CapZ leads to a loss of CapZ's ability to bind the barbed ends of actin filaments. A peptide corresponding to the COOH-terminal region of CapZ beta, expressed as a fusion protein, binds actin monomers. The mAb 1E5 also inhibits the binding of this peptide to actin. These results suggest that the COOH-terminal region of the beta subunit of CapZ is an actin-binding site. The primary structure of this region is not similar to that of potential actin-binding sites identified in other proteins. In addition, the primary structure of this region is not conserved across species.

1993 ◽  
Vol 105 (3) ◽  
pp. 765-775 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Friederich ◽  
T.E. Kreis ◽  
D. Louvard

Villin is an actin-binding protein that is associated with the cytoskeleton of brush border microvilli. In vitro, villin nucleates, caps or severs actin filaments in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner. In the absence of Ca2+, villin organizes microfilaments into bundles. Transfection of a villin-specific cDNA into cultured cells that do not produce this protein results in the growth of long surface microvilli and the reorganization of the underlying actin cytoskeleton. Here we studied the effects of low concentrations of cytochalasin D on the induction of these plasma membrane-actin cytoskeleton specializations. Transfected cells were treated with concentrations of cytochalasin D that prevent the association of actin monomers with the fast-growing end of microfilaments in vitro. In villin-positive cells, cytochalasin D inhibited the growth of microvilli and promoted the formation of rodlet-like actin structures, which were randomly distributed throughout the cytoplasm. The formation of these structures was dependent on large amounts of villin and on the integrity of an actin-binding site located at the carboxy terminus of villin, which is required for microfilament bundling in vitro and for the growth of microvilli in vivo. The effect of cytochalasin D was reversible. The observation of living cells by video-imaging revealed that when cytochalasin D was removed, rapid disassembly of actin rodlets occurred after a lag phase. The present data stress the important role of the plasma membrane in the organization of the actin cytoskeleton and suggest that the extension of the microvillar plasma membrane is dependent on the elongation of microfilaments at their fast-growing end. Inhibition of microfilament elongation near the plasma membrane by cytochalasin D may result in the ‘random’ nucleation of actin filaments throughout the cytoplasm. On the basis of the present data, we propose that villin is involved in the assembly of the microvillar actin bundle by a mechanism that does not prevent monomer association with the preferred end of microfilaments. For instance, villin may stabilize actin filaments by lateral interactions. The functional importance of the carboxy-terminal F-actin binding site in such a mechanism is stressed by the fact that it is required for the formation of F-actin rodlets in cytochalasin D-treated cells. Finally, our data further emphasize the observations that the effects of cytochalasin D in living cells can be modulated by actin-binding proteins.


2006 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 1971-1984 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael G. Clark ◽  
Joseph Teply ◽  
Brian K. Haarer ◽  
Susan C. Viggiano ◽  
David Sept ◽  
...  

Actin interacting protein 1 (Aip1p) and cofilin cooperate to disassemble actin filaments in vitro and are thought to promote rapid turnover of actin networks in vivo. The precise method by which Aip1p participates in these activities has not been defined, although severing and barbed-end capping of actin filaments have been proposed. To better describe the mechanisms and biological consequences of Aip1p activities, we undertook an extensive mutagenesis of AIP1 aimed at disrupting and mapping Aip1p interactions. Site-directed mutagenesis suggested that Aip1p has two actin binding sites, the primary actin binding site lies on the edge of its N-terminal β-propeller and a secondary actin binding site lies in a comparable location on its C-terminal β-propeller. Random mutagenesis followed by screening for separation of function mutants led to the identification of several mutants specifically defective for interacting with cofilin but still able to interact with actin. These mutants suggested that cofilin binds across the cleft between the two propeller domains, leaving the actin binding sites exposed and flanking the cofilin binding site. Biochemical, genetic, and cell biological analyses confirmed that the actin binding- and cofilin binding-specific mutants are functionally defective, whereas the genetic analyses further suggested a role for Aip1p in an early, internalization step of endocytosis. A complementary, unbiased molecular modeling approach was used to derive putative structures for the Aip1p-cofilin complex, the most stable of which is completely consistent with the mutagenesis data. We theorize that Aip1p-severing activity may involve simultaneous binding to two actin subunits with cofilin wedged between the two actin binding sites of the N- and C-terminal propeller domains.


1991 ◽  
Vol 266 (16) ◽  
pp. 10485-10489
Author(s):  
N. Yonezawa ◽  
E. Nishida ◽  
K. Iida ◽  
H. Kumagai ◽  
I. Yahara ◽  
...  

1991 ◽  
Vol 112 (4) ◽  
pp. 665-676 ◽  
Author(s):  
L Eichinger ◽  
A A Noegel ◽  
M Schleicher

Severin from Dictyostelium discoideum is a Ca2(+)-activated actin-binding protein that severs actin filaments, nucleates actin assembly, and caps the fast growing ends of actin filaments. Sequence comparison with functionally related proteins, such as gelsolin, villin, or fragmin revealed highly conserved domains which are thought to be of functional significance. To attribute the different activities of the severin molecule to defined regions, progressively truncated severin polypeptides were constructed. The complete cDNA coding for 362 (DS362) amino acids and five 3' deletions coding for 277 (DS277), 177 (DS177), 151 (DS151), 117 (DS117), or 111 (DS111) amino acids were expressed in Escherichia coli. The proteins were purified to homogeneity and then characterized with respect to their effects on the polymerization or depolymerization kinetics of G- or F-actin solutions and their binding to G-actin. Furthermore, the Ca2+ binding of these proteins was investigated with a 45Ca-overlay assay and by monitoring Ca2(+)-dependent changes in tryptophan fluorescence. Bacterially expressed DS362 showed the same Ca2(+)-dependent activities as native severin. DS277, missing the 85 COOH-terminal amino acids of severin, had lost its strict Ca2+ regulation and displayed a Ca2(+)-independent capping activity, but was still Ca2+ dependent in its severing and nucleating activities. DS151 which corresponded to the first domain of gelsolin or villin had completely lost severing and nucleating properties. However, a residual severing activity of approximately 2% was detectable if 26 amino acids more were present at the COOH-terminal end (DS177). This locates similar to gelsolin the second actin-binding site to the border region between the first and second domain. Measuring the fluorescence enhancement of pyrene-labeled G-actin in the presence of DS111 showed that the first actin-binding site was present in the NH2-terminal 111 amino acids. Extension by six or more amino acids stabilized this actin-binding site in such a way that DS117 and even more pronounced DS151 became Ca2(+)-independent capping proteins. In comparison to many reports on gelsolin we draw the following conclusions. Among the three active actin-binding sites in gelsolin the closely neighboured sites one and two share the F-actin fragmenting function, whereas the actin-binding sites two and three, which are located in far distant domains, collaborate for nucleation. In contrast, severin contains two active actin-binding sites which are next to each other and are responsible for the severing as well as the nucleating function. The single actin-binding site near the NH2-terminus is sufficient for capping of actin filaments.


2008 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 1837-1847 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher T. Pappas ◽  
Nandini Bhattacharya ◽  
John A. Cooper ◽  
Carol C. Gregorio

The barbed ends of actin filaments in striated muscle are anchored within the Z-disc and capped by CapZ; this protein blocks actin polymerization and depolymerization in vitro. The mature lengths of the thin filaments are likely specified by the giant “molecular ruler” nebulin, which spans the length of the thin filament. Here, we report that CapZ specifically interacts with the C terminus of nebulin (modules 160–164) in blot overlay, solid-phase binding, tryptophan fluorescence, and SPOTs membrane assays. Binding of nebulin modules 160–164 to CapZ does not affect the ability of CapZ to cap actin filaments in vitro, consistent with our observation that neither of the two C-terminal actin binding regions of CapZ is necessary for its interaction with nebulin. Knockdown of nebulin in chick skeletal myotubes using small interfering RNA results in a reduction of assembled CapZ, and, strikingly, a loss of the uniform alignment of the barbed ends of the actin filaments. These data suggest that nebulin restricts the position of thin filament barbed ends to the Z-disc via a direct interaction with CapZ. We propose a novel molecular model of Z-disc architecture in which nebulin interacts with CapZ from a thin filament of an adjacent sarcomere, thus providing a structural link between sarcomeres.


2012 ◽  
Vol 444 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keefe T. Chan ◽  
David W. Roadcap ◽  
Nicholas Holoweckyj ◽  
James E. Bear

Dynamic rearrangement of actin filament networks is critical for cell motility, phagocytosis and endocytosis. Coronins facilitate these processes, in part, by their ability to bind F-actin (filamentous actin). We previously identified a conserved surface-exposed arginine (Arg30) in the β-propeller of Coronin 1B required for F-actin binding in vitro and in vivo. However, whether this finding translates to other coronins has not been well defined. Using quantitative actin-binding assays, we show that mutating the equivalent residue abolishes F-actin binding in Coronin 1A, but not Coronin 1C. By mutagenesis and biochemical competition, we have identified a second actin-binding site in the unique region of Coronin 1C. Interestingly, leading-edge localization of Coronin 1C in fibroblasts requires the conserved site in the β-propeller, but not the site in the unique region. Furthermore, in contrast with Coronin 1A and Coronin 1B, Coronin 1C displays highly co-operative binding to actin filaments. In the present study, we highlight a novel mode of coronin regulation, which has implications for how coronins orchestrate cytoskeletal dynamics.


1992 ◽  
Vol 116 (6) ◽  
pp. 1369-1380 ◽  
Author(s):  
L Hemmings ◽  
P A Kuhlman ◽  
D R Critchley

To define the actin-binding site within the NH2-terminal domain (residues 1-245) of chick smooth muscle alpha-actinin, we expressed a series of alpha-actinin deletion mutants in monkey Cos cells. Mutant alpha-actinins in which residues 2-19, 217-242, and 196-242 were deleted still retained the ability to target to actin filaments and filament ends, suggesting that the actin-binding site is located within residues 20-195. When a truncated alpha-actinin (residues 1-290) was expressed in Cos cells, the protein localized exclusively to filament ends. This activity was retained by a deletion mutant lacking residues 196-242, confirming that these are not essential for actin binding. The actin-binding site in alpha-actinin was further defined by expressing both wild-type and mutant actin-binding domains as fusion proteins in E. coli. Analysis of the ability of such proteins to bind to F-actin in vitro showed that the binding site was located between residues 108 and 189. Using both in vivo and in vitro assays, we have also shown that the sequence KTFT, which is conserved in several members of the alpha-actinin family of actin-binding proteins (residues 36-39 in the chick smooth muscle protein) is not essential for actin binding. Finally, we have established that the NH2-terminal domain of dystrophin is functionally as well as structurally homologous to that in alpha-actinin. Thus, a chimeric protein containing the NH2-terminal region of dystrophin (residues 1-233) fused to alpha-actinin residues 244-888 localized to actin-containing structures when expressed in Cos cells. Furthermore, an E. coli-expressed fusion protein containing dystrophin residues 1-233 was able to bind to F-actin in vitro.


1996 ◽  
Vol 135 (1) ◽  
pp. 169-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
D A Schafer ◽  
P B Jennings ◽  
J A Cooper

Bursts of actin polymerization in vivo involve the transient appearance of free barbed ends. To determine how rapidly barbed ends might appear and how long they might remain free in vivo, we studied the kinetics of capping protein, the major barbed end capper, binding to barbed ends in vitro. First, the off-rate constant for capping protein leaving a barbed end is slow, predicting a half-life for a capped barbed end of approximately 30 min. This half-life implies that cells cannot wait for capping protein to spontaneously dissociate from capped barbed ends in order to create free barbed ends. However, we find that phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) and phosphatidylinositol 4-mono-phosphate (PIP) cause rapid and efficient dissociation of capping protein from capped filaments. PIP2 is a strong candidate for a second messenger regulating actin polymerization; therefore, the ability of PIP2 to remove capping protein from barbed ends is a potential mechanism for stimulating actin polymerization in vivo. Second, the on-rate constant for capping protein binding to free barbed ends predicts that actin filaments could grow to the length of filaments observed in vivo during one lifetime. Third, capping protein beta-subunit isoforms did not differ in their actin binding properties, even in tests with different actin isoforms. A major hypothesis for why capping protein beta-subunit isoforms exist is thereby excluded. Fourth, the proposed capping protein regulators, Hsc70 and S100, had no effect on capping protein binding to actin in vitro.


1994 ◽  
Vol 126 (2) ◽  
pp. 413-422 ◽  
Author(s):  
J E Honts ◽  
T S Sandrock ◽  
S M Brower ◽  
J L O'Dell ◽  
A E Adams

Actin interacts with a large number of different proteins that modulate its assembly and mediate its functions. One such protein is the yeast actin-binding protein Sac6p, which is homologous to vertebrate fimbrin (Adams, A. E. M., D. Botstein, and D. G. Drubin. 1991. Nature (Lond.). 354:404-408.). Sac6p was originally identified both genetically (Adams, A. E. M., and D. Botstein. 1989. Genetics. 121:675-683.) by dominant, reciprocal suppression of a temperature-sensitive yeast actin mutation (act1-1), as well as biochemically (Drubin, D. G., K. G. Miller, and D. Botstein. 1988. J. Cell Biol. 107: 2551-2561.). To identify the region on actin that interacts with Sac6p, we have analyzed eight different act1 mutations that show suppression with sac6 mutant alleles, and have asked whether (a) these mutations occur in a small defined region on the crystal structure of actin; and (b) the mutant actins are defective in their interaction with Sac6p in vitro. Sequence analysis indicates that all of these mutations change residues that cluster in the small domain of the actin crystal structure, suggesting that this region is an important part of the Sac6p-binding domain. Biochemical analysis reveals defects in the ability of several of the mutant actins to bind Sac6p, and a reduction in Sac6p-induced cross-linking of mutant actin filaments. Together, these observations identify a likely site of interaction of fimbrin on actin.


2010 ◽  
Vol 30 (7) ◽  
pp. 1800-1813 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geum-Hwa Lee ◽  
Taeho Ahn ◽  
Do-Sung Kim ◽  
Seoung Ju Park ◽  
Yong Chul Lee ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Bax inhibitor 1 (BI-1), a transmembrane protein with Ca2+ channel-like activity, has antiapoptotic and anticancer activities. Cells overexpressing BI-1 demonstrated increased cell adhesion. Using a proteomics tool, we found that BI-1 interacted with γ-actin via leucines 221 and 225 and could control actin polymerization and cell adhesion. Among BI-1−/− cells and cells transfected with BI-1 small interfering RNA (siRNA), levels of actin polymerization and cell adhesion were lower than those among BI-1+/+ cells and cells transfected with nonspecific siRNA. BI-1 acts as a leaky Ca2+ channel, but mutations of the actin binding sites (L221A, L225A, and L221A/L225A) did not change intra-endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+, although deleting the C-terminal motif (EKDKKKEKK) did. However, store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) is activated in cells expressing BI-1 but not in cells expressing actin binding site mutants, even those with the intact C-terminal motif. Consistently, actin polymerization and cell adhesion were inhibited among all the mutant cells. Compared to BI-1+/+ cells, BI-1−/− cells inhibited SOCE, actin polymerization, and cell adhesion. Endogenous BI-1 knockdown cells showed a similar pattern. The C-terminal peptide of BI-1 (LMMLILAMNRKDKKKEKK) polymerized actin even after the deletion of four or six charged C-terminal residues. This indicates that the actin binding site containing L221 to D231 of BI-1 is responsible for actin interaction and that the C-terminal motif has only a supporting role. The intact C-terminal peptide also bundled actin and increased cell adhesion. The results of experiments with whole recombinant BI-1 reconstituted in membranes also coincide well with the results obtained with peptides. In summary, BI-1 increased actin polymerization and cell adhesion through Ca2+ regulation and actin interaction.


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