Local pulsatile contractions are an intrinsic property of the myosin 2A motor in the cortical cytoskeleton of adherent cells

The role of nonmuscle myosin 2 (NM2) pulsatile dynamics in generating contractile forces required for developmental morphogenesis has been characterized, but whether these pulsatile contractions are an intrinsic property of all actomyosin networks is not known. Here we used live-cell fluorescence imaging to show that transient, local assembly of NM2A "pulses" occurs in the cortical cytoskeleton of single adherent cells of mesenchymal, epithelial, and sarcoma origin, independent of developmental signaling cues and cell-cell or cell-ECM interactions. We show that pulses in the cortical cytoskeleton require Rho-associated kinase- or myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) activity, increases in cytosolic calcium, and NM2 ATPase activity. Surprisingly, we find that cortical cytoskeleton pulses specifically require the head domain of NM2A, as they do not occur with either NM2B or a 2B-head-2A-tail chimera. Our results thus suggest that pulsatile contractions in the cortical cytoskeleton are an intrinsic property of the NM2A motor that may mediate its role in homeostatic maintenance of tension in the cortical cytoskeleton of adherent cells.

Nonmuscle myosin-2: mix and match

Members of the nonmuscle myosin-2 (NM-2) family of actin-based molecular motors catalyze the conversion of chemical energy into directed movement and force thereby acting as central regulatory components of the eukaryotic cytoskeleton. By cyclically interacting with adenosine triphosphate and F-actin, NM-2 isoforms promote cytoskeletal force generation in established cellular processes like cell migration, shape changes, adhesion dynamics, endo- and exo-cytosis, and cytokinesis. Novel functions of the NM-2 family members in autophagy and viral infection are emerging, making NM-2 isoforms regulators of nearly all cellular processes that require the spatiotemporal organization of cytoskeletal scaffolding. Here, we assess current views about the role of NM-2 isoforms in these activities including the tight regulation of NM-2 assembly and activation through phosphorylation and how NM-2-mediated changes in cytoskeletal dynamics and mechanics affect cell physiological functions in health and disease.

[Expression and function of non-muscle myosin-IIA in Fechtner syndrome]

The study was purposed to investigate the expression and function of non-muscle myosin heavy chain-IIA (NMMHC-IIA) in Fechtner syndrome in order to explore the pathologic changes of kindy disease and the mechanism of granulocyte inclusion body formation. NMMHC-IIA levels in granulocytes were analyzed by Western-blot, the expressions of NMMHC-IIA, IIB in HEK-293 cells were detected by RT-PCR and were analyzed by co-immunoprecipitation. The results indicated that the IIA/beta-actin ratio for Fechtner syndrome granulocytes was (0.35 +/- 0.12), and obviously decreased as compared with that of normal control (0.87 +/- 0.18) (p < 0.01). The IIA and IIB expressed higher in HEK-293 cells. The interaction of IIA and IIB was confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation in HEK-293 cells. It is concluded that dominant-negative effect of NMMHC-IIA is involved in the formation of inclusion bodies. IIA and IIB show obvious interaction, IIB partly compensates the IIA defect derived from MYH9 mutations, and may delay or prevent the development of clinically relevant abnormalities.

Replacement of nonmuscle myosin II-B with II-A rescues brain but not cardiac defects in mice

The purpose of these studies was to learn whether one isoform of nonmuscle myosin II, specifically nonmuscle myosin II-A, could functionally replace a second one, nonmuscle myosin II-B, in mice. To accomplish this, we used homologous recombination to ablate nonmuscle myosin heavy chain (NMHC) II-B by inserting cDNA encoding green fluorescent protein (GFP)-NMHC II-A into the first coding exon of the Myh10 gene, thereby placing GFP-NMHC II-A under control of the endogenous II-B promoter. Similar to B(-)/B(-) mice, most B(a*)/B(a*) mice died late in embryonic development with structural cardiac defects and impaired cytokinesis of the cardiac myocytes. However, unlike B(-)/B(-) mice, 15 B(a*)/B(a*) mice of 172 F2 generation mice survived embryonic lethality but developed a dilated cardiomyopathy as adults. Surprisingly none of the B(a*)/B(a*) mice showed evidence for hydrocephalus that is always found in B(-)/B(-) mice. Rescue of this defect was due to proper localization and function of GFP-NMHC II-A in place of NMHC II-B in a cell-cell adhesion complex in the cells lining the spinal canal. Restoration of the integrity and adhesion of these cells prevents protrusion of the underlying cells into the spinal canal where they block circulation of the cerebral spinal fluid. However, abnormal migration of facial and pontine neurons found in NMHC II-B mutant and ablated mice persisted in B(a*)/B(a*) mice. Thus, although NMHC II-A can substitute for NMHC II-B to maintain integrity of the spinal canal, NMHC II-B plays an isoform-specific role during cytokinesis in cardiac myocytes and in migration of the facial and pontine neurons.

Regulation of protrusion, adhesion dynamics, and polarity by myosins IIA and IIB in migrating cells

We have used isoform-specific RNA interference knockdowns to investigate the roles of myosin IIA (MIIA) and MIIB in the component processes that drive cell migration. Both isoforms reside outside of protrusions and act at a distance to regulate cell protrusion, signaling, and maturation of nascent adhesions. MIIA also controls the dynamics and size of adhesions in central regions of the cell and contributes to retraction and adhesion disassembly at the rear. In contrast, MIIB establishes front–back polarity and centrosome, Golgi, and nuclear orientation. Using ATPase- and contraction-deficient mutants of both MIIA and MIIB, we show a role for MIIB-dependent actin cross-linking in establishing front–back polarity. From these studies, MII emerges as a master regulator and integrator of cell migration. It mediates each of the major component processes that drive migration, e.g., polarization, protrusion, adhesion assembly and turnover, polarity, signaling, and tail retraction, and it integrates spatially separated processes.

Myosin IIA regulates cell motility and actomyosin–microtubule crosstalk

Non-muscle myosin II has diverse functions in cell contractility, cytokinesis and locomotion, but the specific contributions of its different isoforms have yet to be clarified. Here, we report that ablation of the myosin IIA isoform results in pronounced defects in cellular contractility, focal adhesions, actin stress fibre organization and tail retraction. Nevertheless, myosin IIA-deficient cells display substantially increased cell migration and exaggerated membrane ruffling, which was dependent on the small G-protein Rac1, its activator Tiam1 and the microtubule moter kinesin Eg5. Myosin IIA deficiency stabilized microtubules, shifting the balance between actomyosin and microtubules with increased microtubules in active membrane ruffles. When microtubule polymerization was suppressed, myosin IIB could partially compensate for the absence of the IIA isoform in cellular contractility, but not in cell migration. We conclude that myosin IIA negatively regulates cell migration and suggest that it maintains a balance between the actomyosin and microtubule systems by regulating microtubule dynamics.

Non-muscle myosin-II-B filament regulation of paracellular resistance in cervical epithelial cells is associated with modulation of the cortical acto-myosin

OBJECTIVE

To understand myosin regulation of epithelial permeability.

METHODS

This was an experimental study, using human cervical epithelial cells CaSki. End points were paracellular permeability (determined in terms of transepithelial electrical resistance); non-muscle myosin-II-B (NMM-II-B) cellular localization; NMM-II-B phosphorylation status; NMM-II-B-actin interaction (determined in vitro by the immunoprecipitation-immunoreactivity method); and NMM-II-B filamentation (determined in vitro using purified NMM-II-B filaments in terms of filaments disassembly/assembly ratios.

RESULTS

Treatment of cells with the Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) inhibitor Y-27632 or with the phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid decreased the resistance of the lateral intercellular space (R(LIS)), and increased phosphorylation of NMM-II-B on threonine and serine residues. Y-27632 induced disorganization of the cortical acto-myosin and decreased co-immunoprecipitation of actin with NMM-II-B. Homodimerization assays using NMM-II-B filaments from cells treated with Y-27632 or okadaic acid revealed decreased filamentation compared to control cells. However, okadaic acid blocked Y-27632 decreased filamentation. Treatment with DRB, a casein kinase-II (CK2) inhibitor, induced opposing effects to those of Y-27632 and okadaic acid. Treatment with 5,6-dichloro-1-beta-(D)-ribofuranosylbenzimidazole (DRB) did not involve modulation of actin depolymerization, suggesting that NMM-II-B regulation of the R(LIS) was independent of actin polymerization status. Exposure of NMM-II-B filaments to CK2 increased filamentation, regardless of prior treatments in vivo with Y-27632, okadaic acid, or DRB.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that NMM-II-B filaments are in steady-state equilibrium of phosphorylation-dephosphorylation mediated by CK2 and by ROCK-regulated myosin heavy chain phosphatase, respectively. Increased phosphorylation would tend to inhibit assembly of NMM-II-B filaments and lead to decreased actin-myosin interaction, which would tend to decrease the R(LIS) and increase the paracellular permeability.

Distinct roles of nonmuscle myosin II isoforms in the regulation of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell spreading and migration

Initial stages of tumor cell metastasis involve an epithelial-mesenchyme transition that involves activation of amoeboid migration and loss of cell-cell adhesion. The actomyosin cytoskeleton has fundamental but poorly understood roles in these events. Myosin II, an abundant force-producing protein, has roles in cell body translocation and retraction of the posterior of the cell during migration. Recent studies have suggested that this protein may also have roles in leading edge protrusive events. The metastasis-promoting protein metastasin-1, a regulator of myosin II assembly, colocalizes with myosin IIA at the leading edge of cancer cells, suggesting direct roles for myosin II in metastatic behavior. We have assessed the roles of specific myosin II isoforms during lamellar spreading of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells on extracellular matrix. We find that the two major myosin II isoforms IIA and IIB are both expressed in these cells, and both are recruited dramatically to the lamellar margin during active spreading on fibronectin. There is also a transient increase in regulatory light chain phosphorylation that correlates the recruitment of myosin IIA and myosin IIB into this spreading margin. Pharmacologic inhibition of myosin II or myosin light chain kinase dramatically reduced spreading. Depletion of myosin IIA via small interfering RNA impaired migration but enhanced lamellar spreading, whereas depletion of myosin IIB impaired not only migration but also impaired initial rates of lamellar spreading. These results indicate that both isoforms are critical for the mechanics of cell migration, with myosin IIB seeming to have a preferential role in the mechanics of lamellar protrusion.

Sarcomeric proteins and familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: linking mutations in structural proteins to complex cardiovascular phenotypes

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a relatively common primary cardiac disorder defined as the presence of a hypertrophied left ventricle in the absence of any other diagnosed etiology. HCM is the most common cause of sudden cardiac death in young people which often occurs without precedent symptoms. The overall clinical phenotype of patients with HCM is broad, ranging from a complete lack of cardiovascular symptoms to exertional dyspnea, chest pain, and sudden death, often due to arrhythmias. To date, 270 independent mutations in nine sarcomeric protein genes have been linked to Familial Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (FHC), thus the clinical variability is matched by significant genetic heterogeneity. While the final clinical phenotype in patients with FHC is a result of multiple factors including modifier genes, environmental influences and genotype, initial screening studies had suggested that individual gene mutations could be linked to specific prognoses. Given that the sarcomeric genes linked to FHC encode proteins with known functions, a vast array of biochemical, biophysical and physiologic experimental approaches have been applied to elucidate the molecular mechanisms that underlie the pathogenesis of this complex cardiovascular disorder. In this review, to illustrate the basic relationship between protein dysfunction and disease pathogenesis we focus on representative gene mutations from each of the major structural components of the cardiac sarcomere: the thick filament (beta MyHC), the thin filament (cTnT and Tm) and associated proteins (MyBP-C). The results of these studies will lead to a better understanding of FHC and eventually identify targets for therapeutic intervention.

Function of the neuron-specific alternatively spliced isoforms of nonmuscle myosin II-B during mouse brain development

We report that the alternatively spliced isoforms of nonmuscle myosin heavy chain II-B (NHMC II-B) play distinct roles during mouse brain development. The B1-inserted isoform of NMHC II-B, which contains an insert of 10 amino acids near the ATP-binding region (loop 1) of the myosin heavy chain, is involved in normal migration of facial neurons. In contrast, the B2-inserted isoform, which contains an insert of 21 amino acids near the actin-binding region (loop 2), is important for postnatal development of cerebellar Purkinje cells. Deletion of the B1 alternative exon, together with reduced expression of myosin II-B, results in abnormal migration and consequent protrusion of facial neurons into the fourth ventricle. This protrusion is associated with the development of hydrocephalus. Restoring the amount of myosin II-B expression to wild-type levels prevents these defects, showing the importance of total myosin activity in facial neuron migration. In contrast, deletion of the B2 alternative exon results in abnormal development of cerebellar Purkinje cells. Cells lacking the B2-inserted isoform show reduced numbers of dendritic spines and branches. Some of the B2-ablated Purkinje cells are misplaced in the cerebellar molecular layer. All of the B2-ablated mice demonstrated impaired motor coordination.

A critical role for myosin IIb in dendritic spine morphology and synaptic function

Dendritic spines show rapid motility and plastic morphology, which may mediate information storage in the brain. It is presently believed that polymerization/depolymerization of actin is the primary determinant of spine motility and morphogenesis. Here, we show that myosin IIB, a molecular motor that binds and contracts actin filaments, is essential for normal spine morphology and dynamics and represents a distinct biophysical pathway to control spine size and shape. Myosin IIB is enriched in the postsynaptic density (PSD) of neurons. Pharmacologic or genetic inhibition of myosin IIB alters protrusive motility of spines, destabilizes their classical mushroom-head morphology, and impairs excitatory synaptic transmission. Thus, the structure and function of spines is regulated by an actin-based motor in addition to the polymerization state of actin.

Variations on a theme: the many modes of cytokinesis

Animal cell division is believed to be mediated primarily by the 'purse-string' mechanism, which entails furrowing of the equatorial region, driven by the interaction of actin and myosin II filaments within contractile rings. However, myosin II-null Dictyostelium cells on substrates divide efficiently in a cell cycle-coupled manner. This process, termed cytokinesis B, appears to be driven by polar traction forces. Data in the literature can be interpreted as suggesting that adherent higher animal cells also use a cytokinesis B-like mechanism for cytokinesis. An additional chemotaxis-based cytokinesis that involves a 'midwife' cell has also been reported. Collectively, these findings demonstrate an unexpected diversity of mechanisms by which animal cells carry out cytokinesis.

Nonmuscle myosin IIb is involved in the guidance of fibroblast migration

Although myosin II is known to play an important role in cell migration, little is known about its specific functions. We have addressed the function of one of the isoforms of myosin II, myosin IIB, by analyzing the movement and mechanical characteristics of fibroblasts where this protein has been ablated by gene disruption. Myosin IIB null cells displayed multiple unstable and disorganized protrusions, although they were still able to generate a large fraction of traction forces when cultured on flexible polyacrylamide substrates. However, the traction forces were highly disorganized relative to the direction of cell migration. Analysis of cell migration patterns indicated an increase in speed and decrease in persistence, which were likely responsible for the defects in directional movements as demonstrated with Boyden chambers. In addition, unlike control cells, mutant cells failed to respond to mechanical signals such as compressing forces and changes in substrate rigidity. Immunofluorescence staining indicated that myosin IIB was localized preferentially along stress fibers in the interior region of the cell. Our results suggest that myosin IIB is involved not in propelling but in directing the cell movement, by coordinating protrusive activities and stabilizing the cell polarity.

Asymmetric distribution of myosin IIB in migrating endothelial cells is regulated by a rho-dependent kinase and contributes to tail retraction

All vertebrates contain two nonmuscle myosin II heavy chains, A and B, which differ in tissue expression and subcellular distributions. To understand how these distinct distributions are controlled and what role they play in cell migration, myosin IIA and IIB were examined during wound healing by bovine aortic endothelial cells. Immunofluorescence showed that myosin IIA skewed toward the front of migrating cells, coincident with actin assembly at the leading edge, whereas myosin IIB accumulated in the rear 15-30 min later. Inhibition of myosin light-chain kinase, protein kinases A, C, and G, tyrosine kinase, MAP kinase, and PIP3 kinase did not affect this asymmetric redistribution of myosin isoforms. However, posterior accumulation of myosin IIB, but not anterior distribution of myosin IIA, was inhibited by dominant-negative rhoA and by the rho-kinase inhibitor, Y-27632, which also inhibited myosin light-chain phosphorylation. This inhibition was overcome by transfecting cells with constitutively active myosin light-chain kinase. These observations indicate that asymmetry of myosin IIB, but not IIA, is regulated by light-chain phosphorylation mediated by rho-dependent kinase. Blocking this pathway inhibited tail constriction and retraction, but did not affect protrusion, suggesting that myosin IIB functions in pulling the rear of the cell forward.

Myosin IIA drives neurite retraction

Neuritic extension is the resultant of two vectorial processes: outgrowth and retraction. Whereas myosin IIB is required for neurite outgrowth, retraction is driven by a motor whose identity has remained unknown until now. Preformed neurites in mouse Neuro-2A neuroblastoma cells undergo immediate retraction when exposed to isoform-specific antisense oligonucleotides that suppress myosin IIB expression, ruling out myosin IIB as the retraction motor. When cells were preincubated with antisense oligonucleotides targeting myosin IIA, simultaneous or subsequent addition of myosin IIB antisense oligonucleotides did not elicit neurite retraction, both outgrowth and retraction being curtailed. Even during simultaneous application of antisense oligonucleotides against both myosin isoforms, lamellipodial spreading continued despite the complete inhibition of neurite extension, indicating an uncoupling of lamellipodial dynamics from movement of the neurite. Significantly, lysophosphatidate- or thrombin-induced neurite retraction was blocked not only by the Rho-kinase inhibitor Y27632 but also by antisense oligonucleotides targeting myosin IIA. Control oligonucleotides or antisense oligonucleotides targeting myosin IIB had no effect. In contrast, Y27632 did not inhibit outgrowth, a myosin IIB-dependent process. We conclude that the conventional myosin motor, myosin IIA, drives neurite retraction.

Myosin IIb is unconventionally conventional

Members of the myosin II class of molecular motors have been referred to as "conventional," a term used to describe their ability to form thick filaments, their low duty ratio, the ability of individual motor-containing "heads" to operate independently of each other, and their rate-limiting phosphate release. These features ensure that those motors that have completed their power stroke dissociate rapidly enough to prevent them from interfering with those motors that are beginning theirs. However, in this study, we demonstrate that myosin IIB, a cytoplasmic myosin II particularly enriched in the central nervous system and cardiac tissue, has a number of features that it shares instead with "unconventional" myosin isoforms, including myosins V and VI. These include a high duty ratio, rate-limiting ADP release, and high ADP affinity. These features imply that myosin IIB serves a set of physiologic needs different from those served by its more conventional myosin II counterparts, and this work provides a plausible basis for explaining the physiologic role of this unconventionally conventional myosin.