The crystal structure of uncomplexed actin in the ADP state

Cofilin-2 controls actin filament length in muscle sarcomeres

ADF/cofilins drive cytoskeletal dynamics by promoting the disassembly of "aged" ADP-actin filaments. Mammals express several ADF/cofilin isoforms, but their specific biochemical activities and cellular functions have not been studied in detail. Here, we demonstrate that the muscle-specific isoform cofilin-2 promotes actin filament disassembly in sarcomeres to control the precise length of thin filaments in the contractile apparatus. In contrast to other isoforms, cofilin-2 efficiently binds and disassembles both ADP- and ATP/ADP-Pi-actin filaments. We mapped surface-exposed cofilin-2-specific residues required for ATP-actin binding and propose that these residues function as an "actin nucleotide-state sensor" among ADF/cofilins. The results suggest that cofilin-2 evolved specific biochemical and cellular properties that allow it to control actin dynamics in sarcomeres, where filament pointed ends may contain a mixture of ADP- and ATP/ADP-Pi-actin subunits. Our findings also offer a rationale for why cofilin-2 mutations in humans lead to myopathies.

Near-atomic resolution for one state of F-actin

Actin functions as a helical polymer, F-actin, but attempts to build an atomic model for this filament have been hampered by the fact that the filament cannot be crystallized and by structural heterogeneity. We have used a direct electron detector, cryo-electron microscopy, and the forces imposed on actin filaments in thin films to reconstruct one state of the filament at 4.7 Å resolution, which allows for building a reliable pseudo-atomic model of F-actin. We also report a different state of the filament where actin protomers adopt a conformation observed in the crystal structure of the G-actin-profilin complex with an open ATP-binding cleft. Comparison of the two structural states provides insights into ATP-hydrolysis and filament dynamics. The atomic model provides a framework for understanding why every buried residue in actin has been under intense selective pressure.

Nucleotide regulation of the structure and dynamics of G-actin

Actin, a highly conserved cytoskeletal protein found in all eukaryotic cells, facilitates cell motility and membrane remodeling via a directional polymerization cycle referred to as treadmilling. The nucleotide bound at the core of each actin subunit regulates this process. Although the biochemical kinetics of treadmilling has been well characterized, the atomistic details of how the nucleotide affects polymerization remain to be definitively determined. There is increasing evidence that the nucleotide regulation (and other characteristics) of actin cannot be fully described from the minimum energy structure, but rather depends on a dynamic equilibrium between conformations. In this work we explore the conformational mobility of the actin monomer (G-actin) in a coarse-grained subspace using umbrella sampling to bias all-atom molecular-dynamics simulations along the variables of interest. The results reveal that ADP-bound actin subunits are more conformationally mobile than ATP-bound subunits. We used a multiscale analysis method involving coarse-grained and atomistic representations of these simulations to characterize how the nucleotide affects the low-energy states of these systems. The interface between subdomains SD2-SD4, which is important for polymerization, is stabilized in an actin filament-like (F-actin) conformation in ATP-bound G-actin. Additionally, the nucleotide modulates the conformation of the SD1-SD3 interface, a region involved in the binding of several actin-binding proteins.

Structure of the F-actin-tropomyosin complex

Filamentous actin (F-actin) is the major protein of muscle thin filaments, and actin microfilaments are the main component of the eukaryotic cytoskeleton. Mutations in different actin isoforms lead to early-onset autosomal dominant non-syndromic hearing loss, familial thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissections, and multiple variations of myopathies. In striated muscle fibres, the binding of myosin motors to actin filaments is mainly regulated by tropomyosin and troponin. Tropomyosin also binds to F-actin in smooth muscle and in non-muscle cells and stabilizes and regulates the filaments there in the absence of troponin. Although crystal structures for monomeric actin (G-actin) are available, a high-resolution structure of F-actin is still missing, hampering our understanding of how disease-causing mutations affect the function of thin muscle filaments and microfilaments. Here we report the three-dimensional structure of F-actin at a resolution of 3.7 Å in complex with tropomyosin at a resolution of 6.5 Å, determined by electron cryomicroscopy. The structure reveals that the D-loop is ordered and acts as a central region for hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions that stabilize the F-actin filament. We clearly identify map density corresponding to ADP and Mg(2+) and explain the possible effect of prominent disease-causing mutants. A comparison of F-actin with G-actin reveals the conformational changes during filament formation and identifies the D-loop as their key mediator. We also confirm that negatively charged tropomyosin interacts with a positively charged groove on F-actin. Comparison of the position of tropomyosin in F-actin-tropomyosin with its position in our previously determined F-actin-tropomyosin-myosin structure reveals a myosin-induced transition of tropomyosin. Our results allow us to understand the role of individual mutations in the genesis of actin- and tropomyosin-related diseases and will serve as a strong foundation for the targeted development of drugs.

Cryo-EM reveals different coronin binding modes for ADP- and ADP-BeFx actin filaments

Essential cellular processes involving the actin cytoskeleton are regulated by auxiliary proteins which can sense the nucleotide state of actin. Here we report cryo electron microscopy (cryoEM) structures at 8.6 Å resolution for ADP- and ADP-BeFx- (mimicking ADP-Pi) bound actin filaments in complex with the β-propeller domain (residues 1–600) of yeast coronin 1 (crn1). Our structures identify the main differences in the interaction of coronin with the two nucleotide states of F-actin. We derived pseudo-atomic models by fitting the atomic structures of actin and coronin into these structures. The identified binding interfaces on actin were confirmed by chemical crosslinking, fluorescence spectroscopy and actin mutagenesis. Importantly, the structures of actin and coronin mapped in this study offer a structural explanation for the nucleotide-dependent effects of coronin on cofilin-assisted remodeling of F-actin.

Unraveling the mystery of ATP hydrolysis in actin filaments

Actin performs its myriad cellular functions by the growth and disassembly of its filamentous form. The hydrolysis of ATP in the actin filament has been shown to modulate properties of the filament, thus making it a pivotal regulator of the actin life cycle. Actin has evolved to selectively hydrolyze ATP in the filamentous form, F-actin, with an experimentally observed rate increase over the monomeric form, G-actin, of 4.3 × 10⁴. The cause of this dramatic increase in rate is investigated in this paper using extensive QM/MM simulations of both G- and F-actin. To compute the free energy of hydrolysis in both systems, metadynamics is employed along two collective variables chosen to describe the reaction coordinates of hydrolysis. F-actin is modeled as a monomer with restraints applied to coarse-grained variables enforced to keep it in a filament-like conformation. The simulations reveal a barrier height reduction for ATP hydrolysis in F-actin as compared to G-actin of 8 ± 1 kcal/mol, in good agreement with the experimentally measured barrier height reduction of 7 ± 1 kcal/mol. The barrier height reduction is influenced by an enhanced rotational diffusion of water in F-actin as compared to G-actin and shorter water wires between Asp154 and the nucleophilic water in F-actin, leading to more rapid proton transport.

Actinous enigma or enigmatic actin: Folding, structure, and functions of the most abundant eukaryotic protein

Being the most abundant protein of the eukaryotic cell, actin continues to keep its secrets for more than 60 years. Everything about this protein, its structure, functions, and folding, is mysteriously counterintuitive, and this review represents an attempt to solve some of the riddles and conundrums commonly found in the field of actin research. In fact, actin is a promiscuous binder with a wide spectrum of biological activities. It can exist in at least three structural forms, globular, fibrillar, and inactive (G-, F-, and I-actin, respectively). G-actin represents a thermodynamically instable, quasi-stationary state, which is formed in vivo as a result of the energy-intensive, complex posttranslational folding events controlled and driven by cellular folding machinery. The G-actin structure is dependent on the ATP and Mg²⁺ binding (which in vitro is typically substituted by Ca²⁺) and protein is easily converted to the I-actin by the removal of metal ions and by action of various denaturing agents (pH, temperature, and chemical denaturants). I-actin cannot be converted back to the G-form. Foldable and “natively folded” forms of actin are always involved in interactions either with the specific protein partners, such as Hsp70 chaperone, prefoldin, and the CCT chaperonin during the actin folding in vivo or with Mg²⁺ and ATP as it takes place in the G-form. We emphasize that the solutions for the mysteries of actin multifunctionality, multistructurality, and trapped unfolding can be found in the quasi-stationary nature of this enigmatic protein, which clearly possesses many features attributed to both globular and intrinsically disordered proteins.

Mechanism of actin filament pointed-end capping by tropomodulin

Proteins that cap the ends of the actin filament are essential regulators of cytoskeleton dynamics. Whereas several proteins cap the rapidly growing barbed end, tropomodulin (Tmod) is the only protein known to cap the slowly growing pointed end. The lack of structural information severely limits our understanding of Tmod's capping mechanism. We describe crystal structures of actin complexes with the unstructured amino-terminal and the leucine-rich repeat carboxy-terminal domains of Tmod. The structures and biochemical analysis of structure-inspired mutants showed that one Tmod molecule interacts with three actin subunits at the pointed end, while also contacting two tropomyosin molecules on each side of the filament. We found that Tmod achieves high-affinity binding through several discrete low-affinity interactions, which suggests a mechanism for controlled subunit exchange at the pointed end.

Structural and biochemical studies of actin in complex with synthetic macrolide tail analogues

The actin filament-binding and filament-severing activities of the aplyronine, kabiramide, and reidispongiolide families of marine macrolides are located within the hydrophobic tail region of the molecule. Two synthetic tail analogues of aplyronine C (SF-01 and GC-04) are shown to bind to G-actin with dissociation constants of (285±33) and (132±13) nM, respectively. The crystal structures of actin complexes with GC-04, SF-01, and kabiramide C reveal a conserved mode of tail binding within the cleft that forms between subdomains (SD) 1 and 3. Our studies support the view that filament severing is brought about by specific binding of the tail region to the SD1/SD3 cleft on the upper protomer, which displaces loop-D from the lower protomer on the same half-filament. With previous studies showing that the GC-04 analogue can sever actin filaments, it is argued that the shorter complex lifetime of tail analogues with F-actin would make them more effective at severing filaments compared with plasma gelsolin. Structure-based analyses are used to suggest more reactive or targetable forms of GC-04 and SF-01, which may serve to boost the capacity of the serum actin scavenging system, to generate antibody conjugates against tumor cell antigens, and to decrease sputum viscosity in children with cystic fibrosis.

Structural differences explain diverse functions of Plasmodium actins

Actins are highly conserved proteins and key players in central processes in all eukaryotic cells. The two actins of the malaria parasite are among the most divergent eukaryotic actins and also differ from each other more than isoforms in any other species. Microfilaments have not been directly observed in Plasmodium and are presumed to be short and highly dynamic. We show that actin I cannot complement actin II in male gametogenesis, suggesting critical structural differences. Cryo-EM reveals that Plasmodium actin I has a unique filament structure, whereas actin II filaments resemble canonical F-actin. Both Plasmodium actins hydrolyze ATP more efficiently than α-actin, and unlike any other actin, both parasite actins rapidly form short oligomers induced by ADP. Crystal structures of both isoforms pinpoint several structural changes in the monomers causing the unique polymerization properties. Inserting the canonical D-loop to Plasmodium actin I leads to the formation of long filaments in vitro. In vivo, this chimera restores gametogenesis in parasites lacking actin II, suggesting that stable filaments are required for exflagellation. Together, these data underline the divergence of eukaryotic actins and demonstrate how structural differences in the monomers translate into filaments with different properties, implying that even eukaryotic actins have faced different evolutionary pressures and followed different paths for developing their polymerization properties.

Malaria parasites have two actin isoforms, which are among the most divergent within the actin family that comprises highly conserved proteins, essential in all eukaryotic cells. In Plasmodium, actin is indispensable for motility and, thus, the infectivity of the deadly parasite. Yet, actin filaments have not been observed in vivo in these pathogens. Here, we show that the two Plasmodium actins differ from each other in both monomeric and filamentous form and that actin I cannot replace actin II during male gametogenesis. Whereas the major isoform actin I cannot form stable filaments alone, the mosquito-stage-specific actin II readily forms long filaments that have dimensions similar to canonical actins. A chimeric actin I mutant that forms long filaments in vitro also rescues gametogenesis in parasites lacking actin II. Both Plasmodium actins rapidly hydrolyze ATP and form short oligomers in the presence of ADP, which is a fundamental difference to all other actins characterized to date. Structural and functional differences in the two Plasmodium actin isoforms compared both to each other and to canonical actins reveal how the polymerization properties of eukaryotic actins have evolved along different avenues.

Structure of crenactin, an archaeal actin homologue active at 90°C

The crystal structure of the archaeal actin, crenactin, from the rod-shaped hyperthermophilic (optimal growth at 90°C) crenarchaeonPyrobaculum calidifontisis reported at 3.35 Å resolution. Despite low amino-acid sequence identity, the three-dimensional structure of the protein monomer is highly similar to those of eukaryotic actin and the bacterial MreB protein. Crenactin-specific features are also evident, as well as elements that are shared between crenactin and eukaryotic actin but are not found in MreB. In the crystal, crenactin monomers form right-handed helices, demonstrating that the protein is capable of forming filament-like structures. Monomer interactions in the helix, as well as interactions between crenactin and ADP in the nucleotide-binding pocket, are resolved at the atomic level and compared with those of actin and MreB. The results provide insights into the structural and functional properties of a heat-stable archaeal actin and contribute to the understanding of the evolution of actin-family proteins in the three domains of life.

Regulation of actin by ion-linked equilibria

Actin assembly, filament mechanical properties, and interactions with regulatory proteins depend on the types and concentrations of salts in solution. Salts modulate actin through both nonspecific electrostatic effects and specific binding to discrete sites. Multiple cation-binding site classes spanning a broad range of affinities (nanomolar to millimolar) have been identified on actin monomers and filaments. This review focuses on discrete, low-affinity cation-binding interactions that drive polymerization, regulate filament-bending mechanics, and modulate interactions with regulatory proteins. Cation binding may be perturbed by actin post-translational modifications and linked equilibria. Partial cation occupancy under physiological and commonly used in vitro solution conditions likely contribute to filament mechanical heterogeneity and structural polymorphism. Site-specific cation-binding residues are conserved in Arp2 and Arp3, and may play a role in Arp2/3 complex activation and actin-filament branching activity. Actin-salt interactions demonstrate the relevance of ion-linked equilibria in the operation and regulation of complex biological systems.

De novo ACTG2 mutations cause congenital distended bladder, microcolon, and intestinal hypoperistalsis

Megacystis-microcolon-intestinal hypoperistalsis syndrome (MMIHS) is characterized by prenatal-onset distended urinary bladder with functional intestinal obstruction, requiring extensive surgical intervention for survival. While it is believed to be an autosomal recessive disorder, most cases are sporadic. Through whole-exome sequencing in a child with MMIHS, we identified a de novo mutation, p.R178L, in the gene encoding the smooth muscle gamma-2 actin, ACTG2. We subsequently detected another de novo ACTG2 mutation, p.R178C, in an additional child with MMIHS. Actg2 transcripts were primarily found in murine urinary bladder and intestinal tissues. Structural analysis and functional experiments suggested that both ACTG2 mutants interfere with proper polymerization of ACTG2 into thin filaments, leading to impaired contractility of the smooth muscle. In conclusion, our study suggests a pathogenic mechanism for MMIHS by identifying causative ACTG2 mutations.

Mechanisms of nuclear actin in chromatin-remodeling complexes

The mystery of nuclear actin has puzzled biologists for decades largely due to the lack of defined experimental systems. However, the development of actin-containing chromatin-modifying complexes as a defined genetic and biochemical system in the past decade has provided an unprecedented opportunity to dissect the mechanism of actin in the nucleus. Although the established functions of actin mostly rely on its dynamic polymerization, the novel finding of the mechanism of action of actin in the INO80 chromatin-remodeling complex suggests a conceptually distinct mode of actin that functions as a monomer. In this review we highlight the new paradigm and discuss how actin interaction with chromatin suggests a fundamental divergence between conventional cytoplasmic actin and nuclear actin. Furthermore, we provide how this framework could be applied to investigations of nuclear actin in other actin-containing chromatin-modifying complexes.

Crystallization and preliminary structural characterization of the two actin isoforms of the malaria parasite

Malaria is a devastating disease caused by apicomplexan parasites of the genus Plasmodium that use a divergent actin-powered molecular motor for motility and invasion. Plasmodium actin differs from canonical actins in sequence, structure and function. Here, the purification, crystallization and secondary-structure analysis of the two Plasmodium actin isoforms are presented. The recombinant parasite actins were folded and could be purified to homogeneity. Plasmodium actins I and II were crystallized in complex with the gelsolin G1 domain; the crystals diffracted to resolutions of 1.19 and 2.2 Å and belonged to space groups P2₁2₁2₁ and P2₁, respectively, each with one complex in the asymmetric unit.

Cofilin-induced changes in F-actin detected via cross-linking with benzophenone-4-maleimide

Cofilin is a member of the actin depolymerizing factor (ADF)/cofilin family of proteins. It plays a key role in actin dynamics by promoting disassembly and assembly of actin filaments. Upon its binding, cofilin has been shown to bridge two adjacent protomers in filamentous actin (F-actin) and promote the displacement and disordering of subdomain 2 of actin. Here, we present evidence for cofilin promoting a new structural change in the actin filament, as detected via a switch in cross-linking sites. Benzophenone-4-maleimide, which normally forms intramolecular cross-linking in F-actin, cross-links F-actin intermolecularly upon cofilin binding. We mapped the cross-linking sites and found that in the absence of cofilin intramolecular cross-linking occurred between residues Cys374 and Asp11. In contrast, cofilin shifts the cross-linking by this reagent to intermolecular, between residue Cys374, located within subdomain 1 of the upper protomer, and Met44, located in subdomain 2 of the lower protomer. The intermolecular cross-linking of F-actin slows the rate of cofilin dissociation from the filaments and decreases the effect of ionic strength on cofilin-actin binding. These results are consistent with a significant role of filament flexibility in cofilin-actin interactions.

Structural basis for regulation of Arp2/3 complex by GMF

Arp2/3 complex mediates formation of complex cellular structures such as lamellapodia by nucleating branched actin filaments. Arp2/3 complex activity is precisely controlled by more than a dozen regulators, yet the structural mechanism by which regulators interact with the complex is unknown. GMF is a recently discovered regulator of Arp2/3 complex that can inhibit nucleation and dissemble branches. We solved the structure of the 240 kDa complex of Mus musculus GMF and Bos taurus Arp2/3 and found GMF binds to the barbed end of Arp2, overlapping with the proposed binding site of WASP family proteins. The structure suggests GMF can bind branch junctions like cofilin binds filament sides, consistent with a modified cofilin-like mechanism for debranching by GMF. The GMF-Arp2 interface reveals how the ADF-H actin-binding domain in GMF is exploited to specifically recognize Arp2/3 complex and not actin.

Correlative nanoscale imaging of actin filaments and their complexes

Actin remodeling is an area of interest in biology in which correlative microscopy can bring a new way to analyze protein complexes at the nanoscale. Advances in EM, X-ray diffraction, fluorescence, and single molecule techniques have provided a wealth of information about the modulation of the F-actin structure and its regulation by actin binding proteins (ABPs). Yet, there are technological limitations of these approaches to achieving quantitative molecular level information on the structural and biophysical changes resulting from ABPs interaction with F-actin. Fundamental questions about the actin structure and dynamics and how these determine the function of ABPs remain unanswered. Specifically, how local and long-range structural and conformational changes result in ABPs induced remodeling of F-actin needs to be addressed at the single filament level. Advanced, sensitive and accurate experimental tools for detailed understanding of ABP-actin interactions are much needed. This article discusses the current understanding of nanoscale structural and mechanical modulation of F-actin by ABPs at the single filament level using several correlative microscopic techniques, focusing mainly on results obtained by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) analysis of ABP-actin complexes.

Structural basis of actin filament nucleation by tandem W domains

Spontaneous nucleation of actin is very inefficient in cells. To overcome this barrier, cells have evolved a set of actin filament nucleators to promote rapid nucleation and polymerization in response to specific stimuli. However, the molecular mechanism of actin nucleation remains poorly understood. This is hindered largely by the fact that actin nucleus, once formed, rapidly polymerizes into filament, thus making it impossible to capture stable multisubunit actin nucleus. Here, we report an effective double-mutant strategy to stabilize actin nucleus by preventing further polymerization. Employing this strategy, we solved the crystal structure of AMPPNP-actin in complex with the first two tandem W domains of Cordon-bleu (Cobl), a potent actin filament nucleator. Further sequence comparison and functional studies suggest that the nucleation mechanism of Cobl is probably shared by the p53 cofactor JMY, but not Spire. Moreover, the double-mutant strategy opens the way for atomic mechanistic study of actin nucleation and polymerization.

Small molecules CK-666 and CK-869 inhibit actin-related protein 2/3 complex by blocking an activating conformational change

Actin-related protein 2/3 (Arp2/3) complex is a seven-subunit assembly that nucleates branched actin filaments. Small molecule inhibitors CK-666 and CK-869 bind to Arp2/3 complex and inhibit nucleation, but their modes of action are unknown. Here, we use biochemical and structural methods to determine the mechanism of each inhibitor. Our data indicate that CK-666 stabilizes the inactive state of the complex, blocking movement of the Arp2 and Arp3 subunits into the activated filament-like (short pitch) conformation, while CK-869 binds to a serendipitous pocket on Arp3 and allosterically destabilizes the short pitch Arp3-Arp2 interface. These results provide key insights into the relationship between conformation and activity in Arp2/3 complex and will be critical for interpreting the influence of the inhibitors on actin filament networks in vivo.

The Theory of Ultra-Coarse-Graining. 1. General Principles

Coarse-grained (CG) models provide a computationally efficient means to study biomolecular and other soft matter processes involving large numbers of atoms correlated over distance scales of many covalent bond lengths and long time scales. Variational methods based on information from simulations of finer-grained (e.g., all-atom) models, for example the multiscale coarse-graining (MS-CG) and relative entropy minimization methods, provide attractive tools for the systematic development of CG models. However, these methods have important drawbacks when used in the "ultra-coarse-grained" (UCG) regime, e.g., at a resolution level coarser or much coarser than one amino acid residue per effective CG particle in proteins. This is due to the possible existence of multiple metastable states "within" the CG sites for a given UCG model configuration. In this work, systematic variational UCG methods are presented that are specifically designed to CG entire protein domains and subdomains into single effective CG particles. This is accomplished by augmenting existing effective particle CG schemes to allow for discrete state transitions and configuration-dependent resolution. Additionally, certain conclusions of this work connect back to single-state force matching and open up new avenues for method development in that area. These results provide a formal statistical mechanical basis for UCG methods related to force matching and relative entropy CG methods and suggest practical algorithms for constructing optimal approximate UCG models from fine-grained simulation data.

Multiphasic analysis of whole exome sequencing data identifies a novel mutation of ACTG1 in a nonsyndromic hearing loss family

BACKGROUND

The genetic heterogeneity of sensorineural hearing loss is a major hurdle to the efficient discovery of disease-causing genes. We designed a multiphasic analysis of copy number variation (CNV), linkage, and single nucleotide variation (SNV) of whole exome sequencing (WES) data for the efficient discovery of mutations causing nonsyndromic hearing loss (NSHL).

RESULTS

From WES data, we identified five distinct CNV loci from a NSHL family, but they were not co-segregated among patients. Linkage analysis based on SNVs identified six candidate loci (logarithm of odds [LOD] >1.5). We selected 15 SNVs that co-segregated with NSHL in the family, which were located in six linkage candidate loci. Finally, the novel variant p.M305T in ACTG1 (DFNA20/26) was selected as a disease-causing variant.

CONCLUSIONS

Here, we present a multiphasic CNV, linkage, and SNV analysis of WES data for the identification of a candidate mutation causing NSHL. Our stepwise, multiphasic approach enabled us to expedite the discovery of disease-causing variants from a large number of patient variants.

Coarse-graining provides insights on the essential nature of heterogeneity in actin filaments

Experiments have shown that actin is structurally polymorphic, but knowledge of the details of molecular level heterogeneity in both the dynamics of a single subunit and the interactions between subunits is still lacking. Here, using atomistic molecular dynamics simulations of the actin filament, we identify domains of atoms that move in a correlated fashion, quantify interactions between these domains using coarse-grained (CG) analysis methods, and perform CG simulations to explore the importance of filament heterogeneity. The persistence length and torsional stiffness calculated from molecular dynamics simulation data agree with experimental values. We additionally observe that distinct actin conformations coexist in actin filaments. The filaments also exhibit random twist angles that are broadly distributed. CG analysis reveals that interactions between equivalent CG pairs vary from one subunit to another. To explore the importance of heterogeneity on filament dynamics, we perform CG simulations using different methods of parameterization to show that only by including heterogeneous interactions can we reproduce the twist angles and related properties. Free energy calculations further suggest that in general the actin filament is best represented as a set of subunits with differing CG sites and interactions, and the incorporating heterogeneity into the CG interactions is more important than including that in the CG sites. Our work therefore presents a systematic method to explore molecular level detail in this large and complex biopolymer.

Disulfide cross-linked antiparallel actin dimer

Oxidation of actin monomer (G-actin) with copper o-phenanthroline resulted in a rapid, high yield of disulfide cross-linked dimer. The cross-link is due to an intermolecular disulfide bond between actin Cys374 of each molecule, resulting in a tail-to-tail, i.e., antiparallel, actin dimer. Analytical ultracentrifugation profiles of G-actin can be ascribed to the existence of actin monomers with very little, if any, dimer. Thus, actin dimers are not energetically favorable, indicating that cross-linked dimers are formed during random diffusional collisions. On the other hand, a similar oxidation of actin polymer (F-actin) resulted in a much lower yield of the cross-linked actin dimer that showed no sign of leveling off. Therefore, it is proposed that the cross-linked dimer from actin polymer is due to collisional complexes of actin monomers that are in equilibrium with the polymer during actin treadmilling. These results account for the reported observation that during the early stages of actin polymerization (where the actin monomer concentration is high) cross-linked antiparallel actin dimers are formed in relatively high yield whereas none are formed at later stages of polymerization. These findings raise questions concerning the validity of the antiparallel actin dimer model of in vitro actin polymerization that is based on the assumption that the ability to form cross-linked actin dimers implies the existence of stable dimers.

Effects of actin-binding proteins on the thermal stability of monomeric actin

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was applied to investigate the thermal unfolding of rabbit skeletal muscle G-actin in its complexes with actin-binding proteins, cofilin, twinfilin, and profilin. The results show that the effects of these proteins on the thermal stability of G-actin depend on the nucleotide, ATP or ADP, bound in the nucleotide-binding cleft between actin subdomains 2 and 4. Interestingly, cofilin binding stabilizes both ATP-G-actin and ADP-G-actin, whereas twinfilin increases the thermal stability of the ADP-G-actin but not that of the ATP-G-actin. By contrast, profilin strongly decreases the thermal stability of the ATP-G-actin but has no appreciable effect on the ADP-G-actin. Comparison of these DSC results with literature data reveals a relationship between the effects of actin-binding proteins on the thermal unfolding of G-actin, stabilization or destabilization, and their effects on the rate of nucleotide exchange in the nucleotide-binding cleft, decrease or increase. These results suggest that the thermal stability of G-actin depends, at least partially, on the conformation of the nucleotide-binding cleft: the actin molecule is more stable when the cleft is closed, while an opening of the cleft leads to significant destabilization of G-actin. Thus, DSC studies of the thermal unfolding of G-actin can provide new valuable information about the conformational changes induced by actin-binding proteins in the actin molecule.

Structural dynamics of troponin I during Ca2+-activation of cardiac thin filaments: a multi-site Förster resonance energy transfer study

A multi-site, steady-state Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) approach was used to quantify Ca²⁺-induced changes in proximity between donor loci on human cardiac troponin I (cTnI), and acceptor loci on human cardiac tropomyosin (cTm) and F-actin within functional thin filaments. A fluorescent donor probe was introduced to unique and key cysteine residues on the C- and N-termini of cTnI. A FRET acceptor probe was introduced to one of three sites located on the inner or outer domain of F-actin, namely Cys-374 and the phalloidin-binding site on F-actin, and Cys-190 of cTm. Unlike earlier FRET analyses of protein dynamics within the thin filament, this study considered the effects of non-random distribution of dipoles for the donor and acceptor probes. The major conclusion drawn from this study is that Ca²⁺ and myosin S1-binding to the thin filament results in movement of the C-terminal domain of cTnI from the outer domain of F-actin towards the inner domain, which is associated with the myosin-binding. A hinge-linkage model is used to best-describe the finding of a Ca²⁺-induced movement of the C-terminus of cTnI with a stationary N-terminus. This dynamic model of the activation of the thin filament is discussed in the context of other structural and biochemical studies on normal and mutant cTnI found in hypertrophic cardiomyopathies.

Role of the actin Ala-108-Pro-112 loop in actin polymerization and ATPase activities

Actin plays fundamental roles in a variety of cell functions in eukaryotic cells. The polymerization-depolymerization cycle, between monomeric G-actin and fibrous F-actin, drives essential cell processes. Recently, we proposed the atomic model for the F-actin structure and found that actin was in the twisted form in the monomer and in the untwisted form in the filament. To understand how the polymerization process is regulated (Caspar, D. L. (1991) Curr. Biol. 1, 30-32), we need to know further details about the transition from the twisted to the untwisted form. For this purpose, we focused our attention on the Ala-108-Pro-112 loop, which must play crucial roles in the transition, and analyzed the consequences of the amino acid replacements on the polymerization process. As compared with the wild type, the polymerization of P109A was accelerated in both the nucleation and the elongation steps, and this was attributed to an increase in the frequency factor of the Arrhenius equation. The multiple conformations allowed by the substitution presumably resulted in the effective formation of the collision complex, thus accelerating polymerization. On the other hand, the A108G mutation reduced the rates of both nucleation and elongation due to an increase in the activation energy. In the cases of polymerization acceleration and deceleration, each functional aberration is attributed to a distinct elementary process. The rigidity of the loop, which mediates neither too strong nor too weak interactions between subdomains 1 and 3, might play crucial roles in actin polymerization.

Spontaneous structural changes in actin regulate G-F transformation

Transformations between G- (monomeric) and F-actin (polymeric) are important in cellular behaviors such as migration, cytokinesis, and morphing. In order to understand these transitions, we combined single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer with total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy to examine conformational changes of individual actin protomers. We found that the protomers can take different conformational states and that the transition interval is in the range of hundreds of seconds. The distribution of these states was dependent on the environment, suggesting that actin undergoes spontaneous structural changes that accommodate itself to polymerization.

Complex intramolecular mechanics of G-actin--an elastic network study

Systematic numerical investigations of conformational motions in single actin molecules were performed by employing a simple elastic-network (EN) model of this protein. Similar to previous investigations for myosin, we found that G-actin essentially behaves as a strain sensor, responding by well-defined domain motions to mechanical perturbations. Several sensitive residues within the nucleotide-binding pocket (NBP) could be identified, such that the perturbation of any of them can induce characteristic flattening of actin molecules and closing of the cleft between their two mobile domains. Extending the EN model by introduction of a set of breakable links which become effective only when two domains approach one another, it was observed that G-actin can possess a metastable state corresponding to a closed conformation and that a transition to this state can be induced by appropriate perturbations in the NBP region. The ligands were roughly modeled as a single particle (ADP) or a dimer (ATP), which were placed inside the NBP and connected by elastic links to the neighbors. Our approximate analysis suggests that, when ATP is present, it stabilizes the closed conformation of actin. This may play an important role in the explanation why, in the presence of ATP, the polymerization process is highly accelerated.

Identification of cation-binding sites on actin that drive polymerization and modulate bending stiffness

The assembly of actin monomers into filaments and networks plays vital roles throughout eukaryotic biology, including intracellular transport, cell motility, cell division, determining cellular shape, and providing cells with mechanical strength. The regulation of actin assembly and modulation of filament mechanical properties are critical for proper actin function. It is well established that physiological salt concentrations promote actin assembly and alter the overall bending mechanics of assembled filaments and networks. However, the molecular origins of these salt-dependent effects, particularly if they involve nonspecific ionic strength effects or specific ion-binding interactions, are unknown. Here, we demonstrate that specific cation binding at two discrete sites situated between adjacent subunits along the long-pitch helix drive actin polymerization and determine the filament bending rigidity. We classify the two sites as "polymerization" and "stiffness" sites based on the effects that mutations at the sites have on salt-dependent filament assembly and bending mechanics, respectively. These results establish the existence and location of the cation-binding sites that confer salt dependence to the assembly and mechanics of actin filaments.

Structural states and dynamics of the D-loop in actin

Conformational changes induced by ATP hydrolysis on actin are involved in the regulation of complex actin networks. Previous structural and biochemical data implicate the DNase I binding loop (D-loop) of actin in such nucleotide-dependent changes. Here, we investigated the structural and conformational states of the D-loop (in solution) using cysteine scanning mutagenesis and site-directed labeling. The reactivity of D-loop cysteine mutants toward acrylodan and the mobility of spin labels on these mutants do not show patterns of an α-helical structure in monomeric and filamentous actin, irrespective of the bound nucleotide. Upon transition from monomeric to filamentous actin, acrylodan emission spectra and electron paramagnetic resonance line shapes of labeled mutants are blue-shifted and more immobilized, respectively, with the central residues (residues 43-47) showing the most drastic changes. Moreover, complex electron paramagnetic resonance line shapes of spin-labeled mutants suggest several conformational states of the D-loop. Together with a new (to our knowledge) actin crystal structure that reveals the D-loop in a unique hairpin conformation, our data suggest that the D-loop equilibrates in F-actin among different conformational states irrespective of the nucleotide state of actin.

Targeted massive parallel sequencing: the effective detection of novel causative mutations associated with hearing loss in small families

Background

Hereditary hearing loss is one of the most common heterogeneous disorders, and genetic variants that can cause hearing loss have been identified in over sixty genes. Most of these hearing loss genes have been detected using classical genetic methods, typically starting with linkage analysis in large families with hereditary hearing loss. However, these classical strategies are not well suited for mutation analysis in smaller families who have insufficient genetic information.

Methods

Eighty known hearing loss genes were selected and simultaneously sequenced by targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) in 8 Korean families with autosomal dominant non-syndromic sensorineural hearing loss.

Results

Five mutations in known hearing loss genes, including 1 nonsense and 4 missense mutations, were identified in 5 different genes (ACTG1, MYO1F, DIAPH1, POU4F3 and EYA4), and the genotypes for these mutations were consistent with the autosomal dominant inheritance pattern of hearing loss in each family. No mutational hot-spots were revealed in these Korean families.

Conclusion

Targeted NGS allowed for the detection of pathogenic mutations in affected individuals who were not candidates for classical genetic studies. This report is the first documenting the effective use of an NGS technique to detect pathogenic mutations that underlie hearing loss in an East Asian population. Using this NGS technique to establish a database of common mutations in Korean patients with hearing loss and further data accumulation will contribute to the early diagnosis and fundamental therapies for hereditary hearing loss.

Reaction Dynamics of ATP Hydrolysis in Actin Determined by ab Initio Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Energy released by the hydrolysis of the high-energy phosphate bond of nucleoside triphosphate (NTP) cofactors is the driving force behind most biological processes. To understand how this energy is used to induce differences in protein structure and function, we examine the transfer of vibrational energy into the nucleotide-bound actin active site immediately after reaction activation. To this end, we perform Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics simulations of the active site at the level of density functional theory (DFT) starting at the calculated transition state (TS) structure. Similarly to the mechanism determined in many nucleotide-bound protein systems, the Os-Pγ bond is first elongated. Then, nucleophilic attack of the lytic water on Pγ occurs. Subsequently, protons are transferred in a cycle formed by water molecules, a protein residue, Asp154, and the γ-phosphate group, resulting in the formation of H2PO4(-). To investigate the possible creation of excited vibrational states in the products, power spectra of bond-length autocorrelation functions for relevant bonds within the active site are compared for simulations that start at the TS, at reactants, and at reaction end products. The hydroxyl bond formed in the final proton transfer to the phosphate molecule is observed to exhibit relatively high kinetic energies and large oscillations during reaction. It is also likely that some of the energy released by the reaction is captured by the low-energy stretching vibrations of the phosphoryl bonds of orthophosphate, which oscillate with large amplitudes in nonequilibrium simulations of end products.

Cryo-transmission electron microscopy structure of a gigadalton peptide fiber of de novo design

Nature presents various protein fibers that bridge the nanometer to micrometer regimes. These structures provide inspiration for the de novo design of biomimetic assemblies, both to address difficulties in studying and understanding natural systems, and to provide routes to new biomaterials with potential applications in nanotechnology and medicine. We have designed a self-assembling fiber system, the SAFs, in which two small α-helical peptides are programmed to form a dimeric coiled coil and assemble in a controlled manner. The resulting fibers are tens of nm wide and tens of μm long, and, therefore, comprise millions of peptides to give gigadalton supramolecular structures. Here, we describe the structure of the SAFs determined to approximately 8 Å resolution using cryotransmission electron microscopy. Individual micrographs show clear ultrastructure that allowed direct interpretation of the packing of individual α-helices within the fibers, and the construction of a 3D electron density map. Furthermore, a model was derived using the cryotransmission electron microscopy data and side chains taken from a 2.3 Å X-ray crystal structure of a peptide building block incapable of forming fibers. This was validated using single-particle analysis techniques, and was stable in prolonged molecular-dynamics simulation, confirming its structural viability. The level of self-assembly and self-organization in the SAFs is unprecedented for a designed peptide-based material, particularly for a system of considerably reduced complexity compared with natural proteins. This structural insight is a unique high-resolution description of how α-helical fibrils pack into larger protein fibers, and provides a basis for the design and engineering of future biomaterials.

Interactions of isolated C-terminal fragments of neural Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (N-WASP) with actin and Arp2/3 complex

Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome proteins (WASP) are a family of proteins that all catalyze actin filament branching with the Arp2/3 complex in a variety of actin-based motile processes. The constitutively active C-terminal domain, called VCA, harbors one or more WASP homology 2 (WH2) domains that bind G-actin, whereas the CA extension binds the Arp2/3 complex. The VCA·actin·Arp2/3 entity associates with a mother filament to form a branched junction from which a daughter filament is initiated. The number and function of WH2-bound actin(s) in the branching process are not known, and the stoichiometry of the VCA·actin·Arp2/3 complex is debated. We have expressed the tandem WH2 repeats of N-WASP, either alone (V) or associated with the C (VC) and CA (VCA) extensions. We analyzed the structure of actin in complex with V, VC, and VCA using protein crystallography and hydrodynamic and spectrofluorimetric methods. The partial crystal structure of the VC·actin 1:1 complex shows two actins in the asymmetric unit with extensive actin-actin contacts. In solution, each of the two WH2 domains in V, VC, and VCA binds G-actin in 1:2 complexes that participate in barbed end assembly. V, VC, and VCA enhance barbed end depolymerization like profilin but neither nucleate nor sever filaments, in contrast with other WH2 repeats. VCA binds the Arp2/3 complex in a 1:1 complex even in the presence of a large excess of VCA. VCA·Arp2/3 binds one actin in a latrunculin A-sensitive fashion, in a 1:1:1 complex, indicating that binding of the second actin to VCA is weakened in the ternary complex.

Subdomain location of mutations in cardiac actin correlate with type of functional change

Determining the molecular mechanisms that lead to the development of heart failure will help us gain better insight into the most costly health problem in the Western world. To understand the roles that the actin protein plays in the development of heart failure, we have taken a systematic approach toward characterizing human cardiac actin mutants that have been associated with either hypertrophic or dilated cardiomyopathy. Seven known cardiac actin mutants were expressed in a baculovirus system, and their intrinsic properties were studied. In general, the changes to the properties of the actin proteins themselves were subtle. The R312H variant exhibited reduced stability, with a T_m of 53.6°C compared to 56.8°C for WT actin, accompanied with increased polymerization critical concentration and Pi release rate, and a marked increase in nucleotide release rates. Substitution of methionine for leucine at amino acid 305 showed no impact on the stability, nucleotide release rates, or DNase-I inhibition ability of the actin monomer; however, during polymerization, a 2-fold increase in Pi release was observed. Increases to both the T_m and DNase-I inhibition activity suggested interactions between E99K actin molecules under monomer-promoting conditions. Y166C actin had a higher critical concentration resulting in a lower Pi release rate due to reduced filament-forming potential. The locations of mutations on the ACTC protein correlated with the molecular effects; in general, mutations in subdomain 3 affected the stability of the ACTC protein or affect the polymerization of actin filaments, while mutations in subdomains 1 and 4 more likely affect protein-protein interactions.

Orientation and rotational motions of single molecules by polarized total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (polTIRFM)

In this article, we describe methods to detect the spatial orientation and rotational dynamics of single molecules using polarized total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (polTIRFM). polTIRFM determines the three-dimensional angular orientation and the extent of wobble of a fluorescent probe bound to the macromolecule of interest. We discuss single-molecule versus ensemble measurements, as well as single-molecule techniques for orientation and rotation, and fluorescent probes for orientation studies. Using calmodulin (CaM) as an example of a target protein, we describe a method for labeling CaM with bifunctional rhodamine (BR). We also describe the physical principles and experimental setup of polTIRFM. We conclude with a brief introduction to assays using polTIRFM to assess the interaction of actin and myosin.

Comparison between actin filament models: coarse-graining reveals essential differences

The interconversion of actin between monomeric and polymeric forms is a fundamental process in cell biology that is incompletely understood, in part because there is no high-resolution structure for filamentous actin. Several models have been proposed recently; identifying structural and dynamic differences between them is an essential step toward understanding actin dynamics. We compare three of these models, using coarse-grained analysis of molecular dynamics simulations to analyze the differences between them and evaluate their relative stability. Based on this analysis, we identify key motions that may be associated with polymerization, including a potential energetic barrier in the process. We also find that actin subunits are polymorphic; during simulations they assume a range of configurations remarkably similar to those seen in recent cryoEM images.

Structural basis for profilin-mediated actin nucleotide exchange

Actin is a ubiquitous eukaryotic protein that is responsible for cellular scaffolding, motility, and division. The ability of actin to form a helical filament is the driving force behind these cellular activities. Formation of a filament depends on the successful exchange of actin's ADP for ATP. Mammalian profilin is a small actin binding protein that catalyzes the exchange of nucleotide and facilitates the addition of an actin monomer to a growing filament. Here, crystal structures of profilin-actin have been determined to show an actively exchanging ATP. Structural analysis shows how the binding of profilin to the barbed end of actin causes a rotation of the small domain relative to the large domain. This conformational change is propagated to the ATP site and causes a shift in nucleotide loops, which in turn causes a repositioning of Ca(2+) to its canonical position as the cleft closes around ATP. Reversal of the solvent exposure of Trp356 is also involved in cleft closure. In addition, secondary calcium binding sites were identified.

Quantitative analysis of extension-torsion coupling of actin filaments

Actin filaments have a double-helix structure consisting of globular actin molecules. In many mechanical cellular activities, such as cell movement, division, and shape control, modulation of the extensional and torsional dynamics of the filament has been linked to regulatory actin-binding protein functions. Therefore, it is important to quantitatively evaluate extension-torsion coupling of filament to better understand the actin filament dynamics. In the present study, the extension-torsion coupling was investigated using molecular dynamics simulations. We constructed a model for the actin filament consisting of 14 actin subunits in an ionic solvent as a minimal functional unit, and analyzed longitudinal and twisting Brownian motions of the filament. We then derived the expected value of energy associated with extension and torsion at equilibrium, and evaluated the extension-torsion stiffness of the filament from the thermal fluctuations obtained from the MD simulations. The results demonstrated that as the analyzed sampling-window duration was increased, the extension-torsion coupling stiffness evaluated on a nanosecond scale tended to converge to a value of 7.6×10(-11) N. The results obtained from this study will contribute to the understanding of biomechanical events, under mechanical tension and torque, involving extension-torsion coupling of filaments.

Optimal number of coarse-grained sites in different components of large biomolecular complexes

The computational study of large biomolecular complexes (molecular machines, cytoskeletal filaments, etc.) is a formidable challenge facing computational biophysics and biology. To achieve biologically relevant length and time scales, coarse-grained (CG) models of such complexes usually must be built and employed. One of the important early stages in this approach is to determine an optimal number of CG sites in different constituents of a complex. This work presents a systematic approach to this problem. First, a universal scaling law is derived and numerically corroborated for the intensity of the intrasite (intradomain) thermal fluctuations as a function of the number of CG sites. Second, this result is used for derivation of the criterion for the optimal number of CG sites in different parts of a large multibiomolecule complex. In the zeroth-order approximation, this approach validates the empirical rule of taking one CG site per fixed number of atoms or residues in each biomolecule, previously widely used for smaller systems (e.g., individual biomolecules). The first-order corrections to this rule are derived and numerically checked by the case studies of the Escherichia coli ribosome and Arp2/3 actin filament junction. In different ribosomal proteins, the optimal number of amino acids per CG site is shown to differ by a factor of 3.5, and an even wider spread may exist in other large biomolecular complexes. Therefore, the method proposed in this paper is valuable for the optimal construction of CG models of such complexes.

Exploring the role of topological frustration in actin refolding with molecular simulations

Actin plays crucial roles in the life of the cell while being notorious for its inability to reach a functional conformation without the help of assistant proteins. In eukaryotes, for example, the cytosolic chaperonin containing TCP-1 (CCT) and prefoldin (PFD) are required for actin folding assistance and prevention of protein aggregation in the crowded cellular environment. The folding of non-native actin is known to occur in a number of steps, but the reasons underlying its folding difficulty are unknown. Because a full, atomistic-level, investigation of the kinetics and thermodynamics of folding of such a large molecule is beyond computational reach, we focused our investigation on the role of topological frustration on the folding of actin. Namely, we studied the (re)folding of actin using simulations of a variant self-organized polymer model (SOP-DH) starting from a stretched state, leading to results that correlate well with experimentally driven conclusions and allowing us to make a number of testable predictions. Primarily, our simulations reveal that the successful refolding of the C-terminus end of actin occurs through a zipping process in which the α-helices wind up turn by turn upon formation of their native tertiary contacts. In turn, an early formation of the helical structure in this region of the chain has deleterious effects for actin's refolding fitness. Moreover, the C-terminus refolding is a very rare event in our simulations, in agreement with the large activation barrier predicted on the basis of experimental studies of actin unfolding in EDTA. We also discovered that subdomain 4 has a low refolding probability, which can help explain why many of the non-native actin target binding sites for CCT and PFD are located within this subdomain.

Unique properties of eukaryote-type actin and profilin horizontally transferred to cyanobacteria

A eukaryote-type actin and its binding protein profilin encoded on a genomic island in the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa PCC 7806 co-localize to form a hollow, spherical enclosure occupying a considerable intracellular space as shown by in vivo fluorescence microscopy. Biochemical and biophysical characterization reveals key differences between these proteins and their eukaryotic homologs. Small-angle X-ray scattering shows that the actin assembles into elongated, filamentous polymers which can be visualized microscopically with fluorescent phalloidin. Whereas rabbit actin forms thin cylindrical filaments about 100 µm in length, cyanobacterial actin polymers resemble a ribbon, arrest polymerization at 5-10 µm and tend to form irregular multi-strand assemblies. While eukaryotic profilin is a specific actin monomer binding protein, cyanobacterial profilin shows the unprecedented property of decorating actin filaments. Electron micrographs show that cyanobacterial profilin stimulates actin filament bundling and stabilizes their lateral alignment into heteropolymeric sheets from which the observed hollow enclosure may be formed. We hypothesize that adaptation to the confined space of a bacterial cell devoid of binding proteins usually regulating actin polymerization in eukaryotes has driven the co-evolution of cyanobacterial actin and profilin, giving rise to an intracellular entity.

Key structural features of the actin filament Arp2/3 complex branch junction revealed by molecular simulation

We investigated the structure, properties and dynamics of the actin filament branch junction formed by actin-related protein (Arp) 2/3 complex using all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations based on a model fit to a reconstruction from electron tomograms. Simulations of the entire structure consisting of 31 protein subunits together with solvent molecules containing ∼3 million atoms were performed for an aggregate time of 175 ns. One 75-ns simulation of the original reconstruction was compared to two 50-ns simulations of alternate structures, showing that the hypothesized branch junction structure is very stable. Our simulations revealed that the interface between Arp2/3 complex and the mother actin filament features a large number of salt bridges and hydrophobic contacts, many of which are dynamic and formed/broken on the timescale of the simulation. The simulations suggest that the DNase binding loops in Arp3, and possibly Arp2, form stabilizing contacts with the mother filament. Unbiased comparison of models sampled from the MD simulation trajectory with the primary experimental electron tomography data identified regions were snapshots from the simulation provide atomic details of the model structures and also pinpoints regions where the initial modeling based on the electron tomogram reconstruction may be suboptimal.

Direct redox regulation of F-actin assembly and disassembly by Mical

Different types of cell behavior, including growth, motility, and navigation, require actin proteins to assemble into filaments. Here, we describe a biochemical process that was able to disassemble actin filaments and limit their reassembly. Actin was a specific substrate of the multidomain oxidation-reduction enzyme, Mical, a poorly understood actin disassembly factor that directly responds to Semaphorin/Plexin extracellular repulsive cues. Actin filament subunits were directly modified by Mical on their conserved pointed-end, which is critical for filament assembly. Mical posttranslationally oxidized the methionine 44 residue within the D-loop of actin, simultaneously severing filaments and decreasing polymerization. This mechanism underlying actin cytoskeletal collapse may have broad physiological and pathological ramifications.

The C terminus of formin FMNL3 accelerates actin polymerization and contains a WH2 domain-like sequence that binds both monomers and filament barbed ends

Formin proteins are actin assembly factors that accelerate filament nucleation then remain on the elongating barbed end and modulate filament elongation. The formin homology 2 (FH2) domain is central to these activities, but recent work has suggested that additional sequences enhance FH2 domain function. Here we show that the C-terminal 76 amino acids of the formin FMNL3 have a dramatic effect on the ability of the FH2 domain to accelerate actin assembly. This C-terminal region contains a WASp homology 2 (WH2)-like sequence that binds actin monomers in a manner that is competitive with other WH2 domains and with profilin. In addition, the C terminus binds filament barbed ends. As a monomer, the FMNL3 C terminus inhibits actin polymerization and slows barbed end elongation with moderate affinity. As a dimer, the C terminus accelerates actin polymerization from monomers and displays high affinity inhibition of barbed end elongation. These properties are not common to all formin C termini, as those of mDia1 and INF2 do not behave similarly. Interestingly, mutation of two aliphatic residues, which blocks high affinity actin binding by the WH2-like sequence, has no effect on the ability of the C terminus to enhance FH2-mediated polymerization. However, mutation of three successive basic residues at the C terminus of the WH2-like sequence compromises polymerization enhancement. These results illustrate that the C termini of formins are highly diverse in their interactions with actin.

Evolutionarily divergent, unstable filamentous actin is essential for gliding motility in apicomplexan parasites

Apicomplexan parasites rely on a novel form of actin-based motility called gliding, which depends on parasite actin polymerization, to migrate through their hosts and invade cells. However, parasite actins are divergent both in sequence and function and only form short, unstable filaments in contrast to the stability of conventional actin filaments. The molecular basis for parasite actin filament instability and its relationship to gliding motility remain unresolved. We demonstrate that recombinant Toxoplasma (TgACTI) and Plasmodium (PfACTI and PfACTII) actins polymerized into very short filaments in vitro but were induced to form long, stable filaments by addition of equimolar levels of phalloidin. Parasite actins contain a conserved phalloidin-binding site as determined by molecular modeling and computational docking, yet vary in several residues that are predicted to impact filament stability. In particular, two residues were identified that form intermolecular contacts between different protomers in conventional actin filaments and these residues showed non-conservative differences in apicomplexan parasites. Substitution of divergent residues found in TgACTI with those from mammalian actin resulted in formation of longer, more stable filaments in vitro. Expression of these stabilized actins in T. gondii increased sensitivity to the actin-stabilizing compound jasplakinolide and disrupted normal gliding motility in the absence of treatment. These results identify the molecular basis for short, dynamic filaments in apicomplexan parasites and demonstrate that inherent instability of parasite actin filaments is a critical adaptation for gliding motility.