scholarly journals Modeling myosin Va liposome transport through actin filament networks reveals a percolation threshold that modulates transport properties

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sam Walcott ◽  
David M Warshaw

Myosin Va (myoVa) motors transport membrane-bound cargo through three-dimensional, intracellular actin filament networks. We developed a coarse-grained, in silico model to predict how actin filament density (3-800 filaments) within a randomly oriented actin network affects fluid-like liposome (350nm vs. 1,750nm) transport by myoVa motors. 5,000 simulated liposomes transported within each network adopted one of three states: transport, tug of war, or diffusion. Diffusion due to liposome detachment from actin rarely occurred given at least 10 motors on the liposome surface. However, with increased actin density, liposomes transitioned from primarily directed transport on single actin filaments to an apparent random walk, resulting from a mixture of transport and tug of wars as the probability of encountering additional actin filaments increased. This phase transition arises from a percolation phase transition at a critical number of accessible actin filaments, Nc. Nc, is a geometric property of the actin network that depends only on the position and polarity of the actin filaments and the liposome diameter, as evidenced by a five-fold increase in liposome diameter resulting in a five-fold decrease in Nc. Thus, in cells, actin network density and cargo size may be regulated to match cargo delivery to the cell's physiological demands.

Author(s):  
S. Walcott ◽  
D. M. Warshaw

Myosin Va (myoVa) motors transport membrane-bound cargo through three-dimensional, intracellular actin filament networks. We developed a coarse-grained, in silico model to predict how actin filament density (3-800 filaments) within a randomly oriented actin network affects fluid-like liposome (350nm vs. 1,750nm) transport by myoVa motors. 5,000 simulated liposomes transported within each network adopted one of three states: transport, tug of war, or diffusion. Diffusion due to liposome detachment from actin rarely occurred given at least 10 motors on the liposome surface. However, with increased actin density, liposomes transitioned from primarily directed transport on single actin filaments to an apparent random walk, resulting from a mixture of transport and tug of wars as the probability of encountering additional actin filaments increased. This phase transition arises from a percolation phase transition at a critical number of accessible actin filaments, Nc. Nc is a geometric property of the actin network that depends only on the position and polarity of the actin filaments, transport distance, and the liposome diameter, as evidenced by a five-fold increase in liposome diameter resulting in a five-fold decrease in Nc. Thus, in cells, actin network density and cargo size may be regulated to match cargo delivery to the cell's physiological demands. [Media: see text] [Media: see text] [Media: see text] [Media: see text] [Media: see text] [Media: see text] [Media: see text] [Media: see text] [Media: see text] [Media: see text] [Media: see text] [Media: see text] [Media: see text] [Media: see text] [Media: see text] [Media: see text]


2019 ◽  
Vol 116 (17) ◽  
pp. 8326-8335 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew T. Lombardo ◽  
Shane R. Nelson ◽  
Guy G. Kennedy ◽  
Kathleen M. Trybus ◽  
Sam Walcott ◽  
...  

The cell’s dense 3D actin filament network presents numerous challenges to vesicular transport by teams of myosin Va (MyoVa) molecular motors. These teams must navigate their cargo through diverse actin structures ranging from Arp2/3-branched lamellipodial networks to the dense, unbranched cortical networks. To define how actin filament network organization affects MyoVa cargo transport, we created two different 3D actin networks in vitro. One network was comprised of randomly oriented, unbranched actin filaments; the other was comprised of Arp2/3-branched actin filaments, which effectively polarized the network by aligning the actin filament plus-ends. Within both networks, we defined each actin filament’s 3D spatial position using superresolution stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM) and its polarity by observing the movement of single fluorescent reporter MyoVa. We then characterized the 3D trajectories of fluorescent, 350-nm fluid-like liposomes transported by MyoVa teams (∼10 motors) moving within each of the two networks. Compared with the unbranched network, we observed more liposomes with directed and fewer with stationary motion on the Arp2/3-branched network. This suggests that the modes of liposome transport by MyoVa motors are influenced by changes in the local actin filament polarity alignment within the network. This mechanism was supported by an in silico 3D model that provides a broader platform to understand how cellular regulation of the actin cytoskeletal architecture may fine tune MyoVa-based intracellular cargo transport.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew T. Lombardo ◽  
Shane R. Nelson ◽  
Guy G. Kennedy ◽  
Kathleen M. Trybus ◽  
Sam Walcott ◽  
...  

The cell's dense three-dimensional (3D) actin filament network presents numerous challenges to vesicular transport by teams of myosin Va (MyoVa) molecular motors. These teams must navigate their cargo through diverse actin structures ranging from Arp2/3-branched lamellipodial networks to the dense, unbranched cortical networks. To define how actin filament network organization affects MyoVa cargo transport, we created two different 3D actin networks in vitro. One network was comprised of randomly oriented, unbranched actin filaments; the other was comprised of Arp2/3-branched actin filaments, which effectively polarized the network by aligning the actin filament plus-ends. Within both networks, we defined each actin filament's 3D spatial position, using STORM microscopy, and its polarity by observing the movement of single fluorescent, reporter MyoVa. We then characterized the 3D trajectories of fluorescent, 350 nm fluid-like, liposomes transported by MyoVa teams (~10 motors) moving within each of the two networks. Compared to the unbranched network, we observed more liposomes with directed and fewer with stationary motion on the Arp2/3-branched network. This suggests that the modes of liposome transport by MyoVa motors are influenced by changes in the local actin filament polarity alignment within the network. This mechanism was supported by an in silico 3D model that provides a broader platform to understand how cellular regulation of the actin cytoskeletal architecture may fine-tune MyoVa-based intracellular cargo transport.


2011 ◽  
Vol 22 (14) ◽  
pp. 2541-2550 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne-Cécile Reymann ◽  
Cristian Suarez ◽  
Christophe Guérin ◽  
Jean-Louis Martiel ◽  
Christopher J. Staiger ◽  
...  

Cell motility depends on the rapid assembly, aging, severing, and disassembly of actin filaments in spatially distinct zones. How a set of actin regulatory proteins that sustains actin-based force generation during motility work together in space and time remains poorly understood. We present our study of the distribution and dynamics of Arp2/3 complex, capping protein (CP), and actin-depolymerizing factor (ADF)/cofilin in actin “comet tails,” using a minimal reconstituted system with nucleation-promoting factor (NPF)-coated beads. The Arp2/3 complex concentrates at nucleation sites near the beads as well as in the first actin shell. CP colocalizes with actin and is homogeneously distributed throughout the comet tail; it serves to constrain the spatial distribution of ATP/ADP-Pi filament zones to areas near the bead. The association of ADF/cofilin with the actin network is therefore governed by kinetics of actin assembly, actin nucleotide state, and CP binding. A kinetic simulation accurately validates these observations. Following its binding to the actin networks, ADF/cofilin is able to break up the dense actin filament array of a comet tail. Stochastic severing by ADF/cofilin loosens the tight entanglement of actin filaments inside the comet tail and facilitates turnover through the macroscopic release of large portions of the aged actin network.


2015 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 495-505 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meredith O. Sweeney ◽  
Agnieszka Collins ◽  
Shae B. Padrick ◽  
Bruce L. Goode

Branched actin filament networks in cells are assembled through the combined activities of Arp2/3 complex and different WASP/WAVE proteins. Here we used TIRF and electron microscopy to directly compare for the first time the assembly kinetics and architectures of actin filament networks produced by Arp2/3 complex and dimerized VCA regions of WAVE1, WAVE2, or N-WASP. WAVE1 produced strikingly different networks from WAVE2 or N-WASP, which comprised unexpectedly short filaments. Further analysis showed that the WAVE1-specific activity stemmed from an inhibitory effect on filament elongation both in the presence and absence of Arp2/3 complex, which was observed even at low stoichiometries of WAVE1 to actin monomers, precluding an effect from monomer sequestration. Using a series of VCA chimeras, we mapped the elongation inhibitory effects of WAVE1 to its WH2 (“V”) domain. Further, mutating a single conserved lysine residue potently disrupted WAVE1's inhibitory effects. Taken together, our results show that WAVE1 has unique activities independent of Arp2/3 complex that can govern both the growth rates and architectures of actin filament networks. Such activities may underlie previously observed differences between the cellular functions of WAVE1 and WAVE2.


2014 ◽  
Vol 25 (7) ◽  
pp. 1111-1126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Merja Joensuu ◽  
Ilya Belevich ◽  
Olli Rämö ◽  
Ilya Nevzorov ◽  
Helena Vihinen ◽  
...  

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) comprises a dynamic three-dimensional (3D) network with diverse structural and functional domains. Proper ER operation requires an intricate balance within and between dynamics, morphology, and functions, but how these processes are coupled in cells has been unclear. Using live-cell imaging and 3D electron microscopy, we identify a specific subset of actin filaments localizing to polygons defined by ER sheets and tubules and describe a role for these actin arrays in ER sheet persistence and, thereby, in maintenance of the characteristic network architecture by showing that actin depolymerization leads to increased sheet fluctuation and transformations and results in small and less abundant sheet remnants and a defective ER network distribution. Furthermore, we identify myosin 1c localizing to the ER-associated actin filament arrays and reveal a novel role for myosin 1c in regulating these actin structures, as myosin 1c manipulations lead to loss of the actin filaments and to similar ER phenotype as observed after actin depolymerization. We propose that ER-associated actin filaments have a role in ER sheet persistence regulation and thus support the maintenance of sheets as a stationary subdomain of the dynamic ER network.


2018 ◽  
Vol 114 (3) ◽  
pp. 211a
Author(s):  
Andrew T. Lombardo ◽  
Shane R. Nelson ◽  
Guy G. Kennedy ◽  
Kathleen M. Trybus ◽  
Sam Walcott ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (11) ◽  
pp. 1318-1331 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lam T. Nguyen ◽  
Matthew T. Swulius ◽  
Samya Aich ◽  
Mithilesh Mishra ◽  
Grant J. Jensen

Cytokinesis in many eukaryotic cells is orchestrated by a contractile actomyosin ring. While many of the proteins involved are known, the mechanism of constriction remains unclear. Informed by the existing literature and new three-dimensional (3D) molecular details from electron cryotomography, here we develop 3D coarse-grained models of actin filaments, unipolar and bipolar myosins, actin cross-linkers, and membranes and simulate their interactions. Assuming that local force on the membrane results in inward growth of the cell wall, we explored a matrix of possible actomyosin configurations and found that node-based architectures like those presently described for ring assembly result in membrane puckers not seen in electron microscope images of real cells. Instead, the model that best matches data from fluorescence microscopy, electron cryotomography, and biochemical experiments is one in which actin filaments transmit force to the membrane through evenly distributed, membrane-attached, unipolar myosins, with bipolar myosins in the ring driving contraction. While at this point this model is only favored (not proven), the work highlights the power of coarse-grained biophysical simulations to compare complex mechanistic hypotheses.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chiara Galloni ◽  
Davide Carra ◽  
Jasmine V. G. Abella ◽  
Svend Kjær ◽  
Pavithra Singaravelu ◽  
...  

AbstractThe Arp2/3 complex (Arp2, Arp3 and ARPC1-5) is essential to generate branched actin filament networks for many cellular processes. Human Arp3, ARPC1 and ARPC5 exist as two isoforms but the functional properties of Arp2/3 iso-complexes is largely unexplored. Here we show that Arp3B, but not Arp3 is subject to regulation by the methionine monooxygenase MICAL2, which is recruited to branched actin networks by coronin-1C. Although Arp3 and Arp3B iso-complexes promote actin assembly equally efficiently in vitro, they have different cellular properties. Arp3B turns over significantly faster than Arp3 within the network and upon its depletion actin turnover decreases. Substitution of Arp3B Met293 by Thr, the corresponding residue in Arp3 increases actin network stability, and conversely, replacing Arp3 Thr293 with Gln to mimic Met oxidation promotes network disassembly. Thus, MICAL2 regulates a subset of Arp2/3 complexes to control branched actin network disassembly.


2021 ◽  
Vol 220 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Guillaume Romet-Lemonne ◽  
Antoine Jégou

The turnover of actin filament networks in cells has long been considered to reflect the treadmilling behavior of pure actin filaments in vitro, where only the pointed ends depolymerize. Newly discovered molecular mechanisms challenge this notion, as they provide evidence of situations in which growing and depolymerizing barbed ends coexist.


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