Microtubule-associated protein-like binding of the kinesin-1 tail to microtubules

Glucose-stimulated KIF5B-driven microtubule sliding organizes microtubule networks in pancreatic β cells

In pancreatic islet β cells, molecular motors use cytoskeletal polymers microtubules as tracks for intracellular transport of insulin secretory granules. The β-cell microtubule network has a complex architecture and is non-directional, which provides insulin granules at the cell periphery for rapid secretion response, yet to avoid over-secretion and subsequent hypoglycemia. We have previously characterized a peripheral sub-membrane microtubule array, which is critical for the withdrawal of excessive insulin granules from the secretion sites. Microtubules in β cells originate at the Golgi in the cell interior, and how the peripheral array is formed is unknown. Using real-time imaging and photo-kinetics approaches in clonal mouse pancreatic β cells MIN6, we now demonstrate that kinesin KIF5B, a motor protein with a capacity to transport microtubules as cargos, slides existing microtubules to the cell periphery and aligns them to each other along the plasma membrane. Moreover, like many physiological β-cell features, microtubule sliding is facilitated by a high glucose stimulus. These new data, together with our previous report that in high glucose sub-membrane MT array is destabilized to allow for robust secretion, indicate that MT sliding is another integral part of glucose-triggered microtubule remodeling, likely replacing destabilized peripheral microtubules to prevent their loss over time and β-cell malfunction.

'Mitotic' kinesin-5 is a dynamic brake for axonal growth in Drosophila

During neuronal development, microtubule reorganization shapes axons and dendrites, establishing the framework for efficient nervous system wiring. Our previous work has demonstrated the role of kinesin-1 in driving microtubule sliding, which powers early axon outgrowth and regeneration in Drosophila melanogaster. Here, we reveal a crucial new role for kinesin-5, a mitotic motor, in modulating postmitotic neuron development. The Drosophila kinesin-5, Klp61F, is expressed in larval brain neurons, with high levels in ventral nerve cord (VNC) neurons. Knockdown of Klp61F in neurons leads to severe adult locomotion defects and lethality, primarily due to defects in VNC motor neurons. Klp61F depletion results in excessive microtubule penetration into the axon growth cone, causing significant axon growth defects in culture and in vivo. These defects are rescued by a chimeric human-Drosophila kinesin-5 motor, indicating a conserved role for kinesin-5 in neuronal development. Altogether, we propose that kinesin-5 acts as a brake on kinesin-1-driven microtubule sliding, ensuring proper axon pathfinding in growing neurons.

Mechanism and regulation of kinesin motors

Kinesins are a diverse superfamily of microtubule-based motors that perform fundamental roles in intracellular transport, cytoskeletal dynamics and cell division. These motors share a characteristic motor domain that powers unidirectional motility and force generation along microtubules, and they possess unique tail domains that recruit accessory proteins and facilitate oligomerization, regulation and cargo recognition. The location, direction and timing of kinesin-driven processes are tightly regulated by various cofactors, adaptors, microtubule tracks and microtubule-associated proteins. This Review focuses on recent structural and functional studies that reveal how members of the kinesin superfamily use the energy of ATP hydrolysis to transport cargoes, depolymerize microtubules and regulate microtubule dynamics. I also survey how accessory proteins and post-translational modifications regulate the autoinhibition, cargo binding and motility of some of the best-studied kinesins. Despite much progress, the mechanism and regulation of kinesins are still emerging, and unresolved questions can now be tackled using newly developed approaches in biophysics and structural biology.

Unraveling the interplay of kinesin-1, tau, and microtubules in neurodegeneration associated with Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is marked by the gradual and age-related deterioration of nerve cells in the central nervous system. The histopathological features observed in the brain affected by AD are the aberrant buildup of extracellular and intracellular amyloid-β and the formation of neurofibrillary tangles consisting of hyperphosphorylated tau protein. Axonal transport is a fundamental process for cargo movement along axons and relies on molecular motors like kinesins and dyneins. Kinesin's responsibility for transporting crucial cargo within neurons implicates its dysfunction in the impaired axonal transport observed in AD. Impaired axonal transport and dysfunction of molecular motor proteins, along with dysregulated signaling pathways, contribute significantly to synaptic impairment and cognitive decline in AD. Dysregulation in tau, a microtubule-associated protein, emerges as a central player, destabilizing microtubules and disrupting the transport of kinesin-1. Kinesin-1 superfamily members, including kinesin family members 5A, 5B, and 5C, and the kinesin light chain, are intricately linked to AD pathology. However, inconsistencies in the abundance of kinesin family members in AD patients underline the necessity for further exploration into the mechanistic impact of these motor proteins on neurodegeneration and axonal transport disruptions across a spectrum of neurological conditions. This review underscores the significance of kinesin-1's anterograde transport in AD. It emphasizes the need for investigations into the underlying mechanisms of the impact of motor protein across various neurological conditions. Despite current limitations in scientific literature, our study advocates for targeting kinesin and autophagy dysfunctions as promising avenues for novel therapeutic interventions and diagnostics in AD.

"Mitotic" kinesin-5 is a dynamic brake for axonal growth

During neuronal development, neurons undergo significant microtubule reorganization to shape axons and dendrites, establishing the framework for efficient wiring of the nervous system. Previous studies from our laboratory demonstrated the key role of kinesin-1 in driving microtubule-microtubule sliding, which provides the mechanical forces necessary for early axon outgrowth and regeneration in Drosophila melanogaster. In this study, we reveal the critical role of kinesin-5, a mitotic motor, in modulating the development of postmitotic neurons. Kinesin-5, a conserved homotetrameric motor, typically functions in mitosis by sliding antiparallel microtubules apart in the spindle. Here, we demonstrate that the Drosophila kinesin-5 homolog, Klp61F, is expressed in larval brain neurons, with high levels in ventral nerve cord (VNC) neurons. Knockdown of Klp61F using a pan-neuronal driver leads to severe locomotion defects and complete lethality in adult flies, mainly due to the absence of kinesin-5 in VNC motor neurons during early larval development. Klp61F depletion results in significant axon growth defects, both in cultured and in vivo neurons. By imaging individual microtubules, we observe a significant increase in microtubule motility, and excessive penetration of microtubules into the axon growth cone in Klp61F-depleted neurons. Adult lethality and axon growth defects are fully rescued by a chimeric human-Drosophila kinesin-5 motor, which accumulates at the axon tips, suggesting a conserved role of kinesin-5 in neuronal development. Altogether, our findings show that at the growth cone, kinesin-5 acts as a brake on kinesin-1-driven microtubule sliding, preventing premature microtubule entry into the growth cone. This regulatory role of kinesin-5 is essential for precise axon pathfinding during nervous system development.

Tropomyosin 1-I/C coordinates kinesin-1 and dynein motors during oskar mRNA transport

Dynein and kinesin motors mediate long-range intracellular transport, translocating towards microtubule minus and plus ends, respectively. Cargoes often undergo bidirectional transport by binding to both motors simultaneously. However, it is not known how motor activities are coordinated in such circumstances. In the Drosophila female germline, sequential activities of the dynein-dynactin-BicD-Egalitarian (DDBE) complex and of kinesin-1 deliver oskar messenger RNA from nurse cells to the oocyte, and within the oocyte to the posterior pole. We show through in vitro reconstitution that Tm1-I/C, a tropomyosin-1 isoform, links kinesin-1 in a strongly inhibited state to DDBE-associated oskar mRNA. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, small-angle X-ray scattering and structural modeling indicate that Tm1-I/C suppresses kinesin-1 activity by stabilizing its autoinhibited conformation, thus preventing competition with dynein until kinesin-1 is activated in the oocyte. Our work reveals a new strategy for ensuring sequential activity of microtubule motors.

Dynein-Powered Cell Locomotion Guides Metastasis of Breast Cancer

The principal cause of death in cancer patients is metastasis, which remains an unresolved problem. Conventionally, metastatic dissemination is linked to actomyosin-driven cell locomotion. However, the locomotion of cancer cells often does not strictly line up with the measured actomyosin forces. Here, a complementary mechanism of metastatic locomotion powered by dynein-generated forces is identified. These forces arise within a non-stretchable microtubule network and drive persistent contact guidance of migrating cancer cells along the biomimetic collagen fibers. It is also shown that the dynein-powered locomotion becomes indispensable during invasive 3D migration within a tissue-like luminal network formed by spatially confining granular hydrogel scaffolds (GHS) made up of microscale hydrogel particles (microgels). These results indicate that the complementary motricity mediated by dynein is always necessary and, in certain instances, sufficient for disseminating metastatic breast cancer cells. These findings advance the fundamental understanding of cell locomotion mechanisms and expand the spectrum of clinical targets against metastasis.

Control of motor landing and processivity by the CAP-Gly domain in the KIF13B tail

Microtubules are major components of the eukaryotic cytoskeleton. Posttranslational modifications (PTMs) of tubulin regulates interactions with microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs). One unique PTM is the cyclical removal and re-addition of the C-terminal tyrosine of α-tubulin and MAPs containing CAP-Gly domains specifically recognize tyrosinated microtubules. KIF13B, a long-distance transport kinesin, contains a conserved CAP-Gly domain, but the role of the CAP-Gly domain in KIF13B's motility along microtubules remains unknown. To address this, we investigate the interaction between KIF13B's CAP-Gly domain, and tyrosinated microtubules. We find that KIF13B's CAP-Gly domain influences the initial motor-microtubule interaction, as well as processive motility along microtubules. The effect of the CAP-Gly domain is enhanced when the motor domain is in the ADP state, suggesting an interplay between the N-terminal motor domain and C-terminal CAP-Gly domain. These results reveal that specialized kinesin tail domains play active roles in the initiation and continuation of motor movement.

Go with the flow - bulk transport by molecular motors

Cells are the smallest building blocks of all living eukaryotic organisms, usually ranging from a couple of micrometers (for example, platelets) to hundreds of micrometers (for example, neurons and oocytes) in size. In eukaryotic cells that are more than 100 µm in diameter, very often a self-organized large-scale movement of cytoplasmic contents, known as cytoplasmic streaming, occurs to compensate for the physical constraints of large cells. In this Review, we discuss cytoplasmic streaming in multiple cell types and the mechanisms driving this event. We particularly focus on the molecular motors responsible for cytoplasmic movements and the biological roles of cytoplasmic streaming in cells. Finally, we describe bulk intercellular flow that transports cytoplasmic materials to the oocyte from its sister germline cells to drive rapid oocyte growth.

ALS-linked KIF5A ΔExon27 mutant causes neuronal toxicity through gain-of-function

Mutations in the human kinesin family member 5A (KIF5A) gene were recently identified as a genetic cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Several KIF5A ALS variants cause exon 27 skipping and are predicted to produce motor proteins with an altered C-terminal tail (referred to as ΔExon27). However, the underlying pathogenic mechanism is still unknown. Here, we confirm the expression of KIF5A mutant proteins in patient iPSC-derived motor neurons. We perform a comprehensive analysis of ΔExon27 at the single-molecule, cellular, and organism levels. Our results show that ΔExon27 is prone to form cytoplasmic aggregates and is neurotoxic. The mutation relieves motor autoinhibition and increases motor self-association, leading to drastically enhanced processivity on microtubules. Finally, ectopic expression of ΔExon27 in Drosophila melanogaster causes wing defects, motor impairment, paralysis, and premature death. Our results suggest gain-of-function as an underlying disease mechanism in KIF5A-associated ALS.

Acentrosomal spindle assembly and maintenance in Caenorhabditis elegans oocytes requires a kinesin-12 nonmotor microtubule interaction domain

During the meiotic divisions in oocytes, microtubules are sorted and organized by motor proteins to generate a bipolar spindle in the absence of centrosomes. In most organisms, kinesin-5 family members crosslink and slide microtubules to generate outward force that promotes acentrosomal spindle bipolarity. However, the mechanistic basis for how other kinesin families act on acentrosomal spindles has not been explored. We investigated this question in Caenorhabditis elegans oocytes, where kinesin-5 is not required to generate outward force and the kinesin-12 family motor KLP-18 instead performs this function. Here we use a combination of in vitro biochemical assays and in vivo mutant analysis to provide insight into the mechanism by which KLP-18 promotes acentrosomal spindle assembly. We identify a microtubule binding site on the C-terminal stalk of KLP-18 and demonstrate that a direct interaction between the KLP-18 stalk and its adaptor protein MESP-1 activates nonmotor microtubule binding. We also provide evidence that this C-terminal domain is required for KLP-18 activity during spindle assembly and show that KLP-18 is continuously required to maintain spindle bipolarity. This study thus provides new insight into the construction and maintenance of the oocyte acentrosomal spindle as well as into kinesin-12 mechanism and regulation.

KLC4 shapes axon arbors during development and mediates adult behavior

Development of elaborate and polarized neuronal morphology requires precisely regulated transport of cellular cargos by motor proteins such as kinesin-1. Kinesin-1 has numerous cellular cargos which must be delivered to unique neuronal compartments. The process by which this motor selectively transports and delivers cargo to regulate neuronal morphogenesis is poorly understood, although the cargo-binding kinesin light chain (KLC) subunits contribute to specificity. Our work implicates one such subunit, KLC4, as an essential regulator of axon branching and arborization pattern of sensory neurons during development. Using live imaging approaches in klc4 mutant zebrafish, we show that KLC4 is required for stabilization of nascent axon branches, proper microtubule (MT) dynamics, and endosomal transport. Furthermore, KLC4 is required for proper tiling of peripheral axon arbors: in klc4 mutants, peripheral axons showed abnormal fasciculation, a behavior characteristic of central axons. This result suggests that KLC4 patterns axonal compartments and helps establish molecular differences between central and peripheral axons. Finally, we find that klc4 mutant larva are hypersensitive to touch and adults show anxiety-like behavior in a novel tank test, implicating klc4 as a new gene involved in stress response circuits.

Caspase-cleaved tau is senescence-associated and induces a toxic gain of function by putting a brake on axonal transport

The microtubule-associated protein tau plays a central role in tauopathies such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). The exact molecular mechanisms underlying tau toxicity are unclear, but aging is irrefutably the biggest risk factor. This raises the question of how cellular senescence affects the function of tau as a microtubule regulator. Here we report that the proportion of tau that is proteolytically cleaved at the caspase-3 site (TauC3) doubles in the hippocampus of senescent mice. TauC3 is also elevated in AD patients. Through quantitative live-cell imaging, we show that TauC3 has a drastically reduced dynamics of its microtubule interaction. Single-molecule tracking of tau confirmed that TauC3 has a longer residence time on axonal microtubules. The reduced dynamics of the TauC3-microtubule interaction correlated with a decreased transport of mitochondria, a reduced processivity of APP-vesicle transport and an induction of region-specific dendritic atrophy in CA1 neurons of the hippocampus. The microtubule-targeting drug Epothilone D normalized the interaction of TauC3 with microtubules and modulated the transport of APP-vesicles dependent on the presence of overexpressed human tau. The results indicate a novel toxic gain of function, in which a post-translational modification of tau changes the dynamics of the tau-microtubule interaction and thus leads to axonal transport defects and neuronal degeneration. The data also introduce microtubule-targeting drugs as pharmacological modifiers of the tau-microtubule interaction with the potential to restore the physiological interaction of pathologically altered tau with microtubules.

Mechanical Counterbalance of Kinesin and Dynein Motors in a Microtubular Network Regulates Cell Mechanics, 3D Architecture, and Mechanosensing

Microtubules (MTs) and MT motor proteins form active 3D networks made of unstretchable cables with rod-like bending mechanics that provide cells with a dynamically changing structural scaffold. In this study, we report an antagonistic mechanical balance within the dynein-kinesin microtubular motor system. Dynein activity drives the microtubular network inward compaction, while isolated activity of kinesins bundles and expands MTs into giant circular bands that deform the cell cortex into discoids. Furthermore, we show that dyneins recruit MTs to sites of cell adhesion, increasing the topographic contact guidance of cells, while kinesins antagonize it via retraction of MTs from sites of cell adhesion. Actin-to-microtubule translocation of septin-9 enhances kinesin-MT interactions, outbalances the activity of kinesins over that of dyneins, and induces the discoid architecture of cells. These orthogonal mechanisms of MT network reorganization highlight the existence of an intricate mechanical balance between motor activities of kinesins and dyneins that controls cell 3D architecture, mechanics, and cell-microenvironment interactions.

Microtubule dynamics influence the retrograde biased motility of kinesin-4 motor teams in neuronal dendrites

Microtubules establish the directionality of intracellular transport by kinesins and dynein through polarized assembly, but it remains unclear how directed transport occurs along microtubules organized with mixed polarity. We investigated the ability of the plus end–directed kinesin-4 motor KIF21B to navigate mixed polarity microtubules in mammalian dendrites. Reconstitution assays with recombinant KIF21B and engineered microtubule bundles or extracted neuronal cytoskeletons indicate that nucleotide-independent microtubule-binding regions of KIF21B modulate microtubule dynamics and promote directional switching on antiparallel microtubules. Optogenetic recruitment of KIF21B to organelles in live neurons induces unidirectional transport in axons but bidirectional transport with a net retrograde bias in dendrites. Removal of the secondary microtubule-binding regions of KIF21B or dampening of microtubule dynamics with low concentrations of nocodazole eliminates retrograde bias in live dendrites. Further exploration of the contribution of microtubule dynamics in dendrites to directionality revealed plus end–out microtubules to be more dynamic than plus end–in microtubules, with nocodazole preferentially stabilizing the plus end–out population. We propose a model in which both nucleotide-sensitive and -insensitive microtubule-binding sites of KIF21B motors contribute to the search and selection of stable plus end–in microtubules within the mixed polarity microtubule arrays characteristic of mammalian dendrites to achieve net retrograde movement of KIF21B-bound cargoes.

A bio-pen for direct writing of single molecules on user-functionalized surfaces

Advancing ultrahigh resolution (below 10 nm) direct writing technologies could lead to impacts in areas as diverse as disease detection, genetic analysis and nanomanufacturing. Current methods based on electron-beams and photo- or dip-pen nanolithography are laborious and lack flexibility when aiming to create single molecule patterns for application specific integration. We hypothesize that a novel strategy could be developed to allow for writing of parallel and yet individually addressable patterns of single molecules on user-controlled surfaces. The strategy is based on using in vitro self-recognition of tubulin protein to assemble rigid protofilaments of microtubules, with one such microtubule to be subsequently used as a "bio-pen" capable of writing "inks" of single kinesin molecules in user-defined environments. Our results show that single kinesin inks could be written under the energy of adenosine triphosphate hydrolysis and observed by both atomic force and optical microscopy. Upon extending ink functionalities, the integration of soft and hard materials for nanostructure assembly and complex single molecule pattern formation is envisioned.

Biomolecular interfaces based on self-assembly and self-recognition form biosensors capable of recording molecular binding and release

This research proposed to create the next generation of versatile electrochemical-based biosensors capable of monitoring target capture and release as dictated by molecular binding or unbinding. The biosensor integrates cellular machines (i.e., microtubules, structural elements of cells and kinesin molecular motors involved in cellular transport) as functional units; its assembly is based on molecular self-assembly and self-recognition. Our results demonstrate that the designed biosensor was capable of allowing detection of binding and unbinding events based on redox reactions at user-controlled electrode interfaces. The analysis also showed that the sensitivity of the designed biosensor or its ability to record such events could be user-controlled at any given time by adjusting the energy source that "fuels" the system.

An automated in vitro motility assay for high-throughput studies of molecular motors

Molecular motors, essential to force-generation and cargo transport within cells, are invaluable tools for powering nanobiotechnological lab-on-a-chip devices. These devices are based on in vitro motility assays that reconstitute molecular transport with purified motor proteins, requiring a deep understanding of the biophysical properties of motor proteins and thorough optimization to enable motility under varying environmental conditions. Until now, these assays have been prepared manually, severely limiting throughput. To overcome this limitation, we developed an in vitro motility assay where sample preparation, imaging and data evaluation are fully automated, enabling the processing of a 384-well plate within less than three hours. We demonstrate the automated assay for the analysis of peptide inhibitors for kinesin-1 at a wide range of concentrations, revealing that the IAK domain responsible for kinesin-1 auto-inhibition is both necessary and sufficient to decrease the affinity of the motor protein for microtubules, an aspect that was hidden in previous experiments due to scarcity of data.

MAP7 regulates axon morphogenesis by recruiting kinesin-1 to microtubules and modulating organelle transport

Neuronal cell morphogenesis depends on proper regulation of microtubule-based transport, but the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. Here, we report our study of MAP7, a unique microtubule-associated protein that interacts with both microtubules and the motor protein kinesin-1. Structure-function analysis in rat embryonic sensory neurons shows that the kinesin-1 interacting domain in MAP7 is required for axon and branch growth but not for branch formation. Also, two unique microtubule binding sites are found in MAP7 that have distinct dissociation kinetics and are both required for branch formation. Furthermore, MAP7 recruits kinesin-1 dynamically to microtubules, leading to alterations in organelle transport behaviors, particularly pause/speed switching. As MAP7 is localized to branch sites, our results suggest a novel mechanism mediated by the dual interactions of MAP7 with microtubules and kinesin-1 in the precise control of microtubule-based transport during axon morphogenesis.

Kinesin-dependent transport of keratin filaments: a unified mechanism for intermediate filament transport

Keratin intermediate filaments (IFs) are the major cytoskeletal component in epithelial cells. The dynamics of keratin IFs have been described to depend mostly on the actin cytoskeleton, but the rapid transport of fully polymerized keratin filaments has not been reported. In this work, we used a combination of photoconversion experiments and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-associated protein 9 genome editing to study the role of microtubules and microtubule motors in keratin filament transport. We found that long keratin filaments, like other types of IFs, are transported along microtubules by kinesin-1. Our data revealed that keratin and vimentin are nonconventional kinesin-1 cargoes because their transport did not require kinesin light chains, which are a typical adapter for kinesin-dependent cargo transport. Furthermore, we found that the same domain of the kinesin heavy chain tail is involved in keratin and vimentin IF transport, strongly suggesting that multiple types of IFs move along microtubules using an identical mechanism.-Robert, A., Tian, P., Adam, S. A., Kittisopikul, M., Jaqaman, K., Goldman, R. D., Gelfand, V. I. Kinesin-dependent transport of keratin filaments: a unified mechanism for intermediate filament transport.

Diffusive tail anchorage determines velocity and force produced by kinesin-14 between crosslinked microtubules

Form and function of the mitotic spindle depend on motor proteins that crosslink microtubules and move them relative to each other. Among these are kinesin-14s, such as Ncd, which interact with one microtubule via their non-processive motor domains and with another via their diffusive tail domains, the latter allowing the protein to slip along the microtubule surface. Little is known about the influence of the tail domains on the protein's performance. Here, we show that diffusive anchorage of Ncd's tail domains impacts velocity and force considerably. Tail domain slippage reduced velocities from 270 nm s^-1 to 60 nm s^-1 and forces from several piconewtons to the sub-piconewton range. These findings challenge the notion that kinesin-14 may act as an antagonizer of other crosslinking motors, such as kinesin-5, during mitosis. It rather suggests a role of kinesin-14 as a flexible element, pliantly sliding and crosslinking microtubules to facilitate remodeling of the mitotic spindle.

A small-molecule activator of kinesin-1 drives remodeling of the microtubule network

The microtubule motor kinesin-1 interacts via its cargo-binding domain with both microtubules and organelles, and hence plays an important role in controlling organelle transport and microtubule dynamics. In the absence of cargo, kinesin-1 is found in an autoinhibited conformation. The molecular basis of how cargo engagement affects the balance between kinesin-1's active and inactive conformations and roles in microtubule dynamics and organelle transport is not well understood. Here we describe the discovery of kinesore, a small molecule that in vitro inhibits kinesin-1 interactions with short linear peptide motifs found in organelle-specific cargo adaptors, yet activates kinesin-1's function of controlling microtubule dynamics in cells, demonstrating that these functions are mechanistically coupled. We establish a proof-of-concept that a microtubule motor-cargo interface and associated autoregulatory mechanism can be manipulated using a small molecule, and define a target for the modulation of microtubule dynamics.

TLR7 mediated viral recognition results in focal type I interferon secretion by dendritic cells

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC) sense viral RNA through toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7), form self-adhesive pDC–pDC clusters, and produce type I interferons. This cell adhesion enhances type I interferon production, but little is known about the underlying mechanisms. Here we show that MyD88-dependent TLR7 signaling activates CD11a/CD18 integrin to induce microtubule elongation. TLR7⁺ lysosomes then become linked with these microtubules through the GTPase Arl8b and its effector SKIP/Plekhm2, resulting in perinuclear to peripheral relocalization of TLR7. The type I interferon signaling molecules TRAF3, IKKα, and mTORC1 are constitutively associated in pDCs. TLR7 localizes to mTORC1 and induces association of TRAF3 with the upstream molecule TRAF6. Finally, type I interferons are secreted in the vicinity of cell–cell contacts between clustered pDCs. These results suggest that TLR7 needs to move to the cell periphery to induce robust type I interferon responses in pDCs.

Antiviral immune responses involve clustering of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC) in response to endosomal TLR7-mediated sensing of viral RNA. Here the authors show the GTPase Arl8b controls translocation of TLR7⁺ endosomes to the periphery of the cell via microtubule interactions, thus enabling pDC clustering and type I interferon production.

Native kinesin-1 does not bind preferentially to GTP-tubulin-rich microtubules in vitro

Molecular motors such as kinesin-1 work in small teams to actively shuttle cargos in cells, for example in polarized transport in axons. Here, we examined the potential regulatory role of the nucleotide state of tubulin on the run length of cargos carried by multiple kinesin motors, using an optical trapping-based in vitro assay. Based on a previous report that kinesin binds preferentially to GTP-tubulin-rich microtubules, we anticipated that multiple-kinesin cargos would run substantially greater distances along GMPCPP microtubules than along GDP microtubules. Surprisingly, we did not uncover any significant differences in run length between microtubule types. A combination of single-molecule experiments, comparison with previous theory, and classic microtubule affinity pulldown assays revealed that native kinesin-1 does not bind preferentially to GTP-tubulin-rich microtubules. The apparent discrepancy between our observations and the previous report likely reflects differences in post-translational modifications between the native motors used here and the recombinant motors examined previously. Future investigations will help shed light on the interplay between the motor's post-translational modification and the microtubule's nucleotide-binding state for transport regulation in vivo.

Exploiting the kinesin-1 molecular motor to generate a virus membrane penetration site

Viruses exploit cellular machineries to penetrate a host membrane and cause infection, a process that remains enigmatic for non-enveloped viruses. Here we probe how the non-enveloped polyomavirus SV40 penetrates the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane to reach the cytosol, a crucial infection step. We find that the microtubule-based motor kinesin-1 is recruited to the ER membrane by binding to the transmembrane J-protein B14. Strikingly, this motor facilitates SV40 ER-to-cytosol transport by constructing a penetration site on the ER membrane called a ‘focus'. Neither kinesin-2, kinesin-3 nor kinesin-5 promotes foci formation or infection. The specific use of kinesin-1 is due to its unique ability to select posttranslationally modified microtubules for cargo transport and thereby spatially restrict focus formation to the perinucleus. These findings support the idea of a ‘tubulin code' for motor-dependent trafficking and establish a distinct kinesin-1 function in which a motor is exploited to create a viral membrane penetration site.

How non-enveloped viruses cross host membranes is incompletely understood. Here, Ravindran et al. show that polyomavirus SV40 recruits kinesin-1 to construct a penetration site on the ER membrane.

Moonlighting Motors: Kinesin, Dynein, and Cell Polarity

In addition to their well-known role in transporting cargoes in the cytoplasm, microtubule motors organize their own tracks - the microtubules. While this function is mostly studied in the context of cell division, it is essential for microtubule organization and generation of cell polarity in interphase cells. Kinesin-1, the most abundant microtubule motor, plays a role in the initial formation of neurites. This review describes the mechanism of kinesin-1-driven microtubule sliding and discusses its biological significance in neurons. Recent studies describing the interplay between kinesin-1 and cytoplasmic dynein in the translocation of microtubules are discussed. In addition, we evaluate recent work exploring the developmental regulation of microtubule sliding during axonal outgrowth and regeneration. Collectively, the discussed works suggest that sliding of interphase microtubules by motors is a novel force-generating mechanism that reorganizes the cytoskeleton and drives shape change and polarization.

The C-terminal tails of heterotrimeric kinesin-2 motor subunits directly bind to α-tubulin1: Possible implications for cilia-specific tubulin entry

The assembly of microtubule-based cytoskeleton propels the cilia and flagella growth. Previous studies have indicated that the kinesin-2 family motors transport tubulin into the cilia through intraflagellar transport. Here, we report a direct interaction between the C-terminal tail fragments of heterotrimeric kinesin-2 and α-tubulin1 isoforms in vitro. Blot overlay screen, affinity purification from tissue extracts, cosedimentation with subtilisin-treated microtubule and LC-ESI-MS/MS characterization of the tail-fragment-associated tubulin identified an association between the tail domains and α-tubulin1A/D isotype. The interaction was confirmed by Forster's resonance energy transfer assay in tissue-cultured cells. The overexpression of the recombinant tails in NIH3T3 cells affected the primary cilia growth, which was rescued by coexpression of a α-tubulin1 transgene. Furthermore, fluorescent recovery after photobleach analysis in the olfactory cilia of Drosophila indicated that tubulin is transported in a non-particulate form requiring kinesin-2. These results provide additional new insight into the mechanisms underlying selective tubulin isoform enrichment in the cilia.

Activity-Dependent Regulation of Distinct Transport and Cytoskeletal Remodeling Functions of the Dendritic Kinesin KIF21B

The dendritic arbor is subject to continual activity-dependent remodeling, requiring a balance between directed cargo trafficking and dynamic restructuring of the underlying microtubule tracks. How cytoskeletal components are able to dynamically regulate these processes to maintain this balance remains largely unknown. By combining single-molecule assays and live imaging in rat hippocampal neurons, we have identified the kinesin-4 KIF21B as a molecular regulator of activity-dependent trafficking and microtubule dynamicity in dendrites. We find that KIF21B contributes to the retrograde trafficking of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)-TrkB complexes and also regulates microtubule dynamics through a separable, non-motor microtubule-binding domain. Neuronal activity enhances the motility of KIF21B at the expense of its role in cytoskeletal remodeling, the first example of a kinesin whose function is directly tuned to neuronal activity state. These studies suggest a model in which KIF21B navigates the complex cytoskeletal environment of dendrites by compartmentalizing functions in an activity-dependent manner.

Microtubule-microtubule sliding by kinesin-1 is essential for normal cytoplasmic streaming in Drosophila oocytes

Cytoplasmic streaming in Drosophila oocytes is a microtubule-based bulk cytoplasmic movement. Streaming efficiently circulates and localizes mRNAs and proteins deposited by the nurse cells across the oocyte. This movement is driven by kinesin-1, a major microtubule motor. Recently, we have shown that kinesin-1 heavy chain (KHC) can transport one microtubule on another microtubule, thus driving microtubule-microtubule sliding in multiple cell types. To study the role of microtubule sliding in oocyte cytoplasmic streaming, we used a Khc mutant that is deficient in microtubule sliding but able to transport a majority of cargoes. We demonstrated that streaming is reduced by genomic replacement of wild-type Khc with this sliding-deficient mutant. Streaming can be fully rescued by wild-type KHC and partially rescued by a chimeric motor that cannot move organelles but is active in microtubule sliding. Consistent with these data, we identified two populations of microtubules in fast-streaming oocytes: a network of stable microtubules anchored to the actin cortex and free cytoplasmic microtubules that moved in the ooplasm. We further demonstrated that the reduced streaming in sliding-deficient oocytes resulted in posterior determination defects. Together, we propose that kinesin-1 slides free cytoplasmic microtubules against cortically immobilized microtubules, generating forces that contribute to cytoplasmic streaming and are essential for the refinement of posterior determinants.

Role of kinesin-1-based microtubule sliding in Drosophila nervous system development

The plus-end microtubule (MT) motor kinesin-1 is essential for normal development, with key roles in the nervous system. Kinesin-1 drives axonal transport of membrane cargoes to fulfill the metabolic needs of neurons and maintain synapses. We have previously demonstrated that kinesin-1, in addition to its well-established role in organelle transport, can drive MT-MT sliding by transporting "cargo" MTs along "track" MTs, resulting in dramatic cell shape changes. The mechanism and physiological relevance of this MT sliding are unclear. In addition to its motor domain, kinesin-1 contains a second MT-binding site, located at the C terminus of the heavy chain. Here, we mutated this C-terminal MT-binding site such that the ability of kinesin-1 to slide MTs is significantly compromised, whereas cargo transport is unaffected. We introduced this mutation into the genomic locus of kinesin-1 heavy chain (KHC), generating the Khc(mutA) allele. Khc(mutA) neurons displayed significant MT sliding defects while maintaining normal transport of many cargoes. Using this mutant, we demonstrated that MT sliding is required for axon and dendrite outgrowth in vivo. Consistent with these results, Khc(mutA) flies displayed severe locomotion and viability defects. To test the role of MT sliding further, we engineered a chimeric motor that actively slides MTs but cannot transport organelles. Activation of MT sliding in Khc(mutA) neurons using this chimeric motor rescued axon outgrowth in cultured neurons and in vivo, firmly establishing the role of sliding in axon outgrowth. These results demonstrate that MT sliding by kinesin-1 is an essential biological phenomenon required for neuronal morphogenesis and normal nervous system development.

Neural Transdifferentiation: MAPTau Gene Expression in Breast Cancer Cells

BACKGROUND

In tumor cells, aberrant differentiation programs have been described. Several neuronal proteins have been found associated with morphological neuronal-glial changes in breast cancer (BCa). These neuronal proteins have been related to mechanisms that are involved in carcinogenesis; however, this regulation is not well understood. Microtubule-associated protein-tau (MAP-Tau) has been describing in BCa but not its variants. This finding could partly explain the neuronal-glial morphology of BCa cells. Our aim was to determine mRNA expression of MAP-tau variants 2, 4 and 6 in breast cancer cell lines.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Cultured cell lines MCF-10A, MDA-MB-231, SKBR3 and T47D were observed under phase-contrast microscopy for neural morphology and analyzed for gene expression of MAP-Tau transcript variants 2, 4 and 6 by real-time PCR.

RESULTS

Regarding morphology like neural/glial cells, T47D line shown more cells with these features than MDA-MB-231 and SKBR. In another hand, we found much greater mRNA expression of MAP-Tau transcript variants 2, and to a lesser extent 4 and 6, in T47D cells than the other lines. In conclusion, regulation of MAP- Tau could bring about changes in cytoskeleton, cell morphology and motility; these findings cast further light on neuronal transdifferentiation in BCa.

Interplay between kinesin-1 and cortical dynein during axonal outgrowth and microtubule organization in Drosophila neurons

In this study, we investigated how microtubule motors organize microtubules in Drosophila neurons. We showed that, during the initial stages of axon outgrowth, microtubules display mixed polarity and minus-end-out microtubules push the tip of the axon, consistent with kinesin-1 driving outgrowth by sliding antiparallel microtubules. At later stages, the microtubule orientation in the axon switches from mixed to uniform polarity with plus-end-out. Dynein knockdown prevents this rearrangement and results in microtubules of mixed orientation in axons and accumulation of microtubule minus-ends at axon tips. Microtubule reorganization requires recruitment of dynein to the actin cortex, as actin depolymerization phenocopies dynein depletion, and direct recruitment of dynein to the membrane bypasses the actin requirement. Our results show that cortical dynein slides ‘minus-end-out’ microtubules from the axon, generating uniform microtubule arrays. We speculate that differences in microtubule orientation between axons and dendrites could be dictated by differential activity of cortical dynein.

DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.10140.001

Motor proteins can move along filaments called microtubules to transport proteins and other materials to different parts of the cell. Microtubules are “polar” filaments, meaning that they have two distinct ends that have different chemical properties. Motor proteins can only move along these filaments in one direction, for example, the kinesin motor proteins generally move toward the so-called “plus-end”, while dynein motors move in the opposite direction.

A typical nerve cell (or neuron) is composed of a cell body, a long projection called an axon and many small branch-like structures called dendrites. Within the axon, the microtubules are arranged so that their plus-ends point outwards, but the microtubules in dendrites are arranged differently so that many minus-ends point outwards instead. This polarity is important for the neuron in deciding which proteins should be transported to axons, and which should go to the dendrites. However, it is not clear how these different microtubule arrangements are established.

Here, del Castillo et al. used microscopy to study microtubules in the axons of fruit fly neurons. The experiments show that in the very early stages of neuron development, the axons contained microtubules of mixed polarity. However, by the later stages, the microtubules had become uniform with all the plus-ends directed outwards.

Further experiments show that dynein is responsible for this organization as it pushes the minus-end-out microtubules out of the axons. Dynein uses a scaffold made of a protein called actin to attach to the inner surface of the cell and move the minus-end microtubules to the cell body of the neuron. Thus, del Castillo et al.’s findings reveal that these dynein motors are responsible for the polarity of microtubules in mature axons. The next challenge is to understand how dynein is attached to the actin scaffold and why it rearranges microtubules in axons, but not in dendrites.

DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.10140.002

The carboxyl-terminal tail of the stalk of Arabidopsis NACK1/HINKEL kinesin is required for its localization to the cell plate formation site

Plant cytokinesis is achieved by formation of cell plates in the phragmoplast, a plant-specific cytokinetic apparatus, which consists of microtubules (MTs) and microfilaments. During cytokinesis, the cell plate is expanded centrifugally outward from the inside of cells in a process that is supported by dynamic turnover of MTs. M-phase-specific kinesin NACK1, which comprises the motor domain at the amino-terminal half to move on MT bundles and the stalk region in the carboxyl-terminal half, is a key player in the process of MT turnover. That is, the specific region in the stalk binds the MAP kinase kinase kinase to activate the whole MAP kinase cascade, which stimulates depolymerization of MTs for the MT turnover. The stalk is also responsible for recruiting the activated kinase cascade to the mid-zone of the phragmoplast, which corresponds to the cell-plate formation site. It should be crucial to uncover roles of the NACK1 kinesin stalk as well as the motor domain in the formation of cell plates in order to understand the mechanisms of cell plate formation. Using dissected Arabidopsis NACK1 (AtNACK1/HINKEL) molecules and AtNACK1-fused GFP, we showed that the C-terminal tail of the stalk in addition to the motor domain is critical for its proper localization to the site of cell plate formation in the phragmoplast, probably by affecting its motility activity.

Kinesin-1-powered microtubule sliding initiates axonal regeneration in Drosophila cultured neurons

Microtubule sliding drives initial axon regeneration in Drosophila neurons. Axotomy leads to fast calcium influx and subsequent microtubule reorganization. Kinesin-1 heavy chain drives the sliding of antiparallel microtubules to power axonal regrowth, and the JNK pathway promotes axonal regeneration by enhancing microtubule sliding.

Understanding the mechanism underlying axon regeneration is of great practical importance for developing therapeutic treatment for traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries. Dramatic cytoskeleton reorganization occurs at the injury site, and microtubules have been implicated in the regeneration process. Previously we demonstrated that microtubule sliding by conventional kinesin (kinesin-1) is required for initiation of neurite outgrowth in Drosophila embryonic neurons and that sliding is developmentally down-regulated when neurite outgrowth is completed. Here we report that mechanical axotomy of Drosophila neurons in culture triggers axonal regeneration and regrowth. Regenerating neurons contain actively sliding microtubules; this sliding, like sliding during initial neurite outgrowth, is driven by kinesin-1 and is required for axonal regeneration. The injury induces a fast spike of calcium, depolymerization of microtubules near the injury site, and subsequent formation of local new microtubule arrays with mixed polarity. These events are required for reactivation of microtubule sliding at the initial stages of regeneration. Furthermore, the c-Jun N-terminal kinase pathway promotes regeneration by enhancing microtubule sliding in injured mature neurons.

Pavarotti/MKLP1 regulates microtubule sliding and neurite outgrowth in Drosophila neurons

Recently, we demonstrated that kinesin-1 can slide microtubules against each other, providing the mechanical force required for initial neurite extension in Drosophila neurons. This sliding is only observed in young neurons actively forming neurites and is dramatically downregulated in older neurons. The downregulation is not caused by the global shutdown of kinesin-1, as the ability of kinesin-1 to transport membrane organelles is not diminished in mature neurons, suggesting that microtubule sliding is regulated by a dedicated mechanism. Here, we have identified the "mitotic" kinesin-6 Pavarotti (Pav-KLP) as an inhibitor of kinesin-1-driven microtubule sliding. Depletion of Pav-KLP in neurons strongly stimulated the sliding of long microtubules and neurite outgrowth, while its ectopic overexpression in the cytoplasm blocked both of these processes. Furthermore, postmitotic depletion of Pav-KLP in Drosophila neurons in vivo reduced embryonic and larval viability, with only a few animals surviving to the third instar larval stage. A detailed examination of motor neurons in the surviving larvae revealed the overextension of axons and mistargeting of neuromuscular junctions, resulting in uncoordinated locomotion. Taken together, our results identify a new role for Pav-KLP as a negative regulator of kinesin-1-driven neurite formation. These data suggest an important parallel between long microtubule-microtubule sliding in anaphase B and sliding of interphase microtubules during neurite formation.

A refined reaction-diffusion model of tau-microtubule dynamics and its application in FDAP analysis

Fluorescence decay after photoactivation (FDAP) and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) are well established approaches for studying the interaction of the microtubule (MT)-associated protein tau with MTs in neuronal cells. Previous interpretations of FDAP/FRAP data have revealed dwell times of tau on MTs in the range of several seconds. However, this is difficult to reconcile with a dwell time recently measured by single-molecule analysis in neuronal processes that was shorter by two orders of magnitude. Questioning the validity of previously used phenomenological interpretations of FDAP/FRAP data, we have generalized the standard two-state reaction-diffusion equations by 1), accounting for the parallel and discrete arrangement of MTs in cell processes (i.e., homogeneous versus heterogeneous distribution of tau-binding sites); and 2), explicitly considering both active (diffusion upon MTs) and passive (piggybacking upon MTs at rates of slow axonal transport) motion of bound tau. For some idealized cases, analytical solutions were derived. By comparing them with the full numerical solution and Monte Carlo simulations, the respective validity domains were mapped. Interpretation of our FDAP data (from processes of neuronally differentiated PC12 cells) in light of the heterogeneous formalism yielded independent estimates for the association (∼2 ms) and dwell (∼100 ms) times of tau to/on a single MT rather than in an MT array. The dwell time was shorter by orders of magnitude than that in a previous report where a homogeneous topology of MTs was assumed. We found that the diffusion of bound tau was negligible in vivo, in contrast to an earlier report that tau diffuses along the MT lattice in vitro. Methodologically, our results demonstrate that the heterogeneity of binding sites cannot be ignored when dealing with reaction-diffusion of cytoskeleton-associated proteins. Physiologically, the results reveal the behavior of tau in cellular processes, which is noticeably different from that in vitro.

Single-molecule tracking of tau reveals fast kiss-and-hop interaction with microtubules in living neurons

The microtubule-associated phosphoprotein tau regulates microtubule dynamics and is involved in neurodegenerative diseases collectively called tauopathies. It is generally believed that the vast majority of tau molecules decorate axonal microtubules, thereby stabilizing them. However, it is an open question how tau can regulate microtubule dynamics without impeding microtubule-dependent transport and how tau is also available for interactions other than those with microtubules. Here we address this apparent paradox by fast single-molecule tracking of tau in living neurons and Monte Carlo simulations of tau dynamics. We find that tau dwells on a single microtubule for an unexpectedly short time of ∼40 ms before it hops to the next. This dwell time is 100-fold shorter than previously reported by ensemble measurements. Furthermore, we observed by quantitative imaging using fluorescence decay after photoactivation recordings of photoactivatable GFP-tagged tubulin that, despite this rapid dynamics, tau is capable of regulating the tubulin-microtubule balance. This indicates that tau's dwell time on microtubules is sufficiently long to influence the lifetime of a tubulin subunit in a GTP cap. Our data imply a novel kiss-and-hop mechanism by which tau promotes neuronal microtubule assembly. The rapid kiss-and-hop interaction explains why tau, although binding to microtubules, does not interfere with axonal transport.

Radial intercalation is regulated by the Par complex and the microtubule-stabilizing protein CLAMP/Spef1

The directed movement of cells is critical for numerous developmental and disease processes. A developmentally reiterated form of migration is radial intercalation; the process by which cells move in a direction orthogonal to the plane of the tissue from an inner layer to an outer layer. We use the radial intercalation of cells into the skin of Xenopus laevis embryos as a model to study directed cell migration within an epithelial tissue. We identify a novel function for both the microtubule-binding protein CLAMP and members of the microtubule-regulating Par complex during intercalation. Specifically, we show that Par3 and aPKC promote the apical positioning of centrioles, whereas CLAMP stabilizes microtubules along the axis of migration. We propose a model in which the Par complex defines the orientation of apical migration during intercalation and in which subcellular localization of CLAMP promotes the establishment of an axis of microtubule stability required for the active migration of cells into the outer epithelium.

Cell biology in neuroscience: cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying presynapse formation

Synapse formation is a highly regulated process that requires the coordination of many cell biological events. Decades of research have identified a long list of molecular components involved in assembling a functioning synapse. Yet how the various steps, from transporting synaptic components to adhering synaptic partners and assembling the synaptic structure, are regulated and precisely executed during development and maintenance is still unclear. With the improvement of imaging and molecular tools, recent work in vertebrate and invertebrate systems has provided important insight into various aspects of presynaptic development, maintenance, and trans-synaptic signals, thereby increasing our understanding of how extrinsic organizers and intracellular mechanisms contribute to presynapse formation.

The auto-inhibitory domain and ATP-independent microtubule-binding region of Kinesin heavy chain are major functional domains for transport in the Drosophila germline

The major motor Kinesin-1 provides a key pathway for cell polarization through intracellular transport. Little is known about how Kinesin works in complex cellular surroundings. Several cargos associate with Kinesin via Kinesin light chain (KLC). However, KLC is not required for all Kinesin transport. A putative cargo-binding domain was identified in the C-terminal tail of fungal Kinesin heavy chain (KHC). The tail is conserved in animal KHCs and might therefore represent an alternative KLC-independent cargo-interacting region. By comprehensive functional analysis of the tail during Drosophila oogenesis we have gained an understanding of how KHC achieves specificity in its transport and how it is regulated. This is, to our knowledge, the first in vivo structural/functional analysis of the tail in animal Kinesins. We show that the tail is essential for all functions of KHC except Dynein transport, which is KLC dependent. These tail-dependent KHC activities can be functionally separated from one another by further characterizing domains within the tail. In particular, our data show the following. First, KHC is temporally regulated during oogenesis. Second, the IAK domain has an essential role distinct from its auto-inhibitory function. Third, lack of auto-inhibition in itself is not necessarily detrimental to KHC function. Finally, the ATP-independent microtubule-binding motif is required for cargo localization. These results stress that two unexpected highly conserved domains, namely the auto-inhibitory IAK and the auxiliary microtubule-binding motifs, are crucial for transport by Kinesin-1 and that, although not all cargos are conserved, their transport involves the most conserved domains of animal KHCs.

Single molecule FRET observation of kinesin-1's head-tail interaction on microtubule

Kinesin-1 (conventional kinesin) is a molecular motor that transports various cargo such as endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria in cells. Its two head domains walk along microtubule by hydrolyzing ATP, while the tail domains at the end of the long stalk bind to the cargo. When a kinesin is not carrying cargo, its motility and ATPase activity is inhibited by direct interactions between the tail and head. However, the mechanism of this tail regulation is not well understood. Here, we apply single molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer (smFRET) to observe this interaction in stalk-truncated kinesin. We found that kinesin with two tails forms a folding conformation and dissociates from microtubules, whereas kinesin with one tail remains bound to the micro-tubule and is immobile even in the presence of ATP. We further investigated the head-tail interaction as well as head-head coordination on the microtubule at various nucleotide conditions. From these results, we propose a two-step inhibition model for kinesin motility.

The molecular basis for kinesin functional specificity during mitosis

Microtubule-based motor proteins play key roles during mitosis to assemble the bipolar spindle, define the cell division axis, and align and segregate the chromosomes. The majority of mitotic motors are members of the kinesin superfamily. Despite sharing a conserved catalytic core, each kinesin has distinct functions and localization, and is uniquely regulated in time and space. These distinct behaviors and functional specificity are generated by variations in the enzymatic domain as well as the non-conserved regions outside of the kinesin motor domain and the stalk. These flanking regions can directly modulate the properties of the kinesin motor through dimerization or self-interactions, and can associate with extrinsic factors, such as microtubule or DNA binding proteins, to provide additional functional properties. This review discusses the recently identified molecular mechanisms that explain how the control and functional specification of mitotic kinesins is achieved. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Direct regulation of microtubule dynamics by KIF17 motor and tail domains

KIF17 is a kinesin-2 family motor that interacts with EB1 at microtubule (MT) plus-ends and contributes to MT stabilization in epithelial cells. The mechanism by which KIF17 affects MTs and how its activity is regulated are not yet known. Here, we show that EB1 and the KIF17 autoinhibitory tail domain (KIF17-Tail) interacted competitively with the KIF17 catalytic motor domain (K370). Both EB1 and KIF17-Tail decreased the K0.5MT of K370, with opposing effects on MT-stimulated ATPase activity. Importantly, K370 had independent effects on MT dynamic instability, resulting in formation of long MTs without affecting polymerization rate or total polymer mass. K370 also inhibited MT depolymerization induced by dilution in vitro and by nocodazole in cells, suggesting that it acts by protecting MT plus-ends. Interestingly, KIF17-Tail bound MTs and tubulin dimers, delaying initial MT polymerization in vitro and MT regrowth in cells. However, neither EB1 nor KIF17-Tail affected K370-mediated MT polymerization or stabilization significantly in vitro, and EB1 was dispensable for MT stabilization by K370 in cells. Thus, although EB1 and KIF17-Tail may coordinate KIF17 catalytic activity, our data reveal a novel and direct role for KIF17 in regulating MT dynamics.

Cytoplasmic dynein crosslinks and slides anti-parallel microtubules using its two motor domains

Cytoplasmic dynein is the predominant minus-end-directed microtubule (MT) motor in most eukaryotic cells. In addition to transporting vesicular cargos, dynein helps to organize MTs within MT networks such as mitotic spindles. How dynein performs such non-canonical functions is unknown. Here we demonstrate that dynein crosslinks and slides anti-parallel MTs in vitro. Surprisingly, a minimal dimeric motor lacking a tail domain and associated subunits can cause MT sliding. Single molecule imaging reveals that motors pause and frequently reverse direction when encountering an anti-parallel MT overlap, suggesting that the two motor domains can bind both MTs simultaneously. In the mitotic spindle, inward microtubule sliding by dynein counteracts outward sliding generated by kinesin-5, and we show that a tailless, dimeric motor is sufficient to drive this activity in mammalian cells. Our results identify an unexpected mechanism for dynein-driven microtubule sliding, which differs from filament sliding mechanisms described for other motor proteins.

DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.00943.001

When cells divide, they must also divide their contents. In particular, both ‘mother’ and ‘daughter’ cells require full sets of chromosomes, which must first be duplicated, and then evenly distributed between the cells. Protein filaments called microtubules form a network that helps to accurately segregate the chromosomes. Microtubules emanate from structures at each end of the dividing cell known as spindle poles; after the chromosomes have duplicated, the microtubules latch onto them and align the pairs in the middle of the cell. As the two cells separate, microtubules at opposite spindle poles reel in one chromosome from each pair.

Microtubules are composed of alternating copies of two different types of a protein called tubulin, and have ends with distinct properties. The ‘minus’ ends are directed outwards, away from the chromosomes; the ‘plus’ ends—which can actively add tubulin—grow toward the middle of the cell, and can also bind to chromosomes. Microtubules can be manipulated by motor proteins that ‘walk’ along them carrying cargoes, which can include other microtubules. The combined actions of many motor proteins rearrange the microtubule network into a configuration that enables the chromosomes, and other cellular structures, to partition equally between the mother and daughter cells.

Motor proteins such as dynein and kinesin transport cargoes along microtubules; each motor is composed of two identical copies of the protein bound to each other. Kinesin walks toward the plus end of a microtubule, propelling itself using ‘feet’ that are called motor domains; it binds cargoes (including other microtubules) through additional regions located at the opposite end of the protein. In contrast, dynein walks toward the minus end of a microtubule. Although dynein is known to carry certain cargoes through regions outside its motor domain, how it transports other microtubules is not well understood.

Tanenbaum et al. now show that regions outside the motor domain of dynein are unnecessary to transport microtubule cargoes. When two dynein motor domains are isolated and linked to each other in vitro, each can bind to a separate microtubule. By walking toward the minus ends of their respective microtubules, the motor domains drive the microtubules in opposite directions, sliding them apart. These studies thus provide insight into the mechanism through which dynein works with additional motor proteins (such as kinesin) to rearrange microtubules during cell division—and also to ensure that chromosomes segregate evenly between mother and daughter cells.

DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.00943.002

The spatial structure of cell signaling systems

The spatial structure of the cell is highly organized at all levels: from small complexes and assemblies, to local nano- and microclusters, to global, micrometer scales across and between cells. We suggest that this multiscale spatial cell organization also organizes signaling and coordinates cellular behavior. We propose a new view of the spatial structure of cell signaling systems. This new view describes cell signaling in terms of dynamic allosteric interactions within and among distinct, spatially organized transient clusters. The clusters vary over time and space and are on length scales from nanometers to micrometers. When considered across these length scales, primary factors in the spatial organization are cell membrane domains and the actin cytoskeleton, both also highly dynamic. A key challenge is to understand the interplay across these multiple scales, link it to the physicochemical basis of the conformational behavior of single molecules and ultimately relate it to cellular function. Overall, our premise is that at these scales, cell signaling should be thought of not primarily as a sequence of diffusion-controlled molecular collisions, but instead transient, allostery-driven cluster re-forming interactions.

Initial neurite outgrowth in Drosophila neurons is driven by kinesin-powered microtubule sliding

Remarkably, forces within a neuron can extend its axon to a target that could be meters away. The two main cytoskeleton components in neurons are microtubules, which are mostly bundled along the axon shaft, and actin filaments, which are highly enriched in a structure at the axon distal tip, the growth cone. Neurite extension has been thought to be driven by a combination of two forces: pushing via microtubule assembly, and/or pulling by an actin-driven mechanism in the growth cone. Here we show that a novel mechanism, sliding of microtubules against each other by the microtubule motor kinesin-1, provides the mechanical forces necessary for initial neurite extension in Drosophila neurons. Neither actin filaments in the growth cone nor tubulin polymerization is required for initial outgrowth. Microtubule sliding in neurons is developmentally regulated and is suppressed during neuronal maturation. As kinesin-1 is highly evolutionarily conserved from Drosophila to humans, it is likely that kinesin-1-powered microtubule sliding plays an important role in neurite extension in many types of neurons across species.

Kinesin-1 regulates dendrite microtubule polarity in Caenorhabditis elegans

In neurons, microtubules (MTs) span the length of both axons and dendrites, and the molecular motors use these intracellular ‘highways' to transport diverse cargo to the appropriate subcellular locations. Whereas axonal MTs are organized such that the plus-end is oriented out from the cell body, dendrites exhibit a mixed MTs polarity containing both minus-end-out and plus-end-out MTs. The molecular mechanisms underlying this differential organization, as well as its functional significance, are unknown. Here, we show that kinesin-1 is critical in establishing the characteristic minus-end-out MT organization of the dendrite in vivo. In unc-116 (kinesin-1/kinesin heavy chain) mutants, the dendritic MTs adopt an axonal-like plus-end-out organization. Kinesin-1 protein is able to cross-link anti-paralleled MTs in vitro. We propose that kinesin-1 regulates the dendrite MT polarity through directly gliding the plus-end-out MTs out of the dendrite using both the motor domain and the C-terminal MT-binding domain.

DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.00133.001

Neurons, or nerve cells, are excitable cells that transmit information using electrical and chemical signals. Nerve cells are generally composed of a cell body, multiple dendrites, and a single axon. The dendrites are responsible for receiving inputs and for transferring these signals to the cell body, whereas the axon carries signals away from the cell body and relays them to other cells.

Like all cells, nerve cells have a cytoskeleton made up of microtubules, which help to determine cellular shape and which act as ‘highways' for intracellular transport. Microtubules are long hollow fibers composed of alternating α- and β-tubulin proteins: each microtubule has a ‘plus'-end, where the β subunits are exposed, and a ‘minus'-end, where the α subunits are exposed. Nerve cells are highly polarized: within the axon, the microtubules are uniformly oriented with their plus-ends pointing outward, whereas in dendrites, there are many microtubules with their minus-ends pointing outward. This arrangement is conserved across the animal kingdom, but the mechanisms that establish it are largely unknown.

Yan et al. use the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans (the nematode worm) to conduct a detailed in vivo analysis of dendritic microtubule organization. They find that a motor protein called kinesin-1 is critical for generating the characteristic minus-end-out pattern in dendrites: when the gene that codes for this protein is knocked out, the dendrites in microtubules undergo a dramatic polarity shift and adopt the plus-end-out organization that is typical of axons. The mutant dendrites also show other axon-like features: for example, they lack many of the proteins that are usually found in dendrites. Based on these and other data, Yan et al. propose that kinesin-1 determines microtubule polarity in dendrites by moving plus-end-out microtubules out of dendrites.

These first attempts to explain, at the molecular level, how dendritic microtubule polarity is achieved in vivo could lead to new insights into the structure and function of the neuronal cytoskeleton.

DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.00133.002

Kinesin tail domains are intrinsically disordered

Kinesin motor proteins transport a wide variety of molecular cargoes in a spatially and temporally regulated manner. Kinesin motor domains, which hydrolyze ATP to produce a directed mechanical force along a microtubule, are well conserved throughout the entire superfamily. Outside of the motor domains, kinesin sequences diverge along with their transport functions. The nonmotor regions, particularly the tails, respond to a wide variety of structural and molecular cues that enable kinesins to carry specific cargoes in response to particular cellular signals. Here, we demonstrate that intrinsic disorder is a common structural feature of kinesins. A bioinformatics survey of the full-length sequences of all 43 human kinesins predicts that significant regions of intrinsically disordered residues are present in all kinesins. These regions are concentrated in the nonmotor domains, particularly in the tails and near sites for ligand binding or post-translational modifications. In order to experimentally verify these predictions, we expressed and purified the tail domains of kinesins representing three different families (Kif5B, Kif10, and KifC3). Circular dichroism and NMR spectroscopy experiments demonstrate that the isolated tails are disordered in vitro, yet they retain their functional microtubule-binding activity. On the basis of these results, we propose that intrinsic disorder is a common structural feature that confers functional specificity to kinesins.