Myosin X transports Mena/VASP to the tip of filopodia

Actomyosin stress fiber mechanosensing in 2D and 3D

Mechanotransduction is the process through which cells survey the mechanical properties of their environment, convert these mechanical inputs into biochemical signals, and modulate their phenotype in response. These mechanical inputs, which may be encoded in the form of extracellular matrix stiffness, dimensionality, and adhesion, all strongly influence cell morphology, migration, and fate decisions. One mechanism through which cells on planar or pseudo-planar matrices exert tensile forces and interrogate microenvironmental mechanics is through stress fibers, which are bundles composed of actin filaments and, in most cases, non-muscle myosin II filaments. Stress fibers form a continuous structural network that is mechanically coupled to the extracellular matrix through focal adhesions. Furthermore, myosin-driven contractility plays a central role in the ability of stress fibers to sense matrix mechanics and generate tension. Here, we review the distinct roles that non-muscle myosin II plays in driving mechanosensing and focus specifically on motility. In a closely related discussion, we also describe stress fiber classification schemes and the differing roles of various myosin isoforms in each category. Finally, we briefly highlight recent studies exploring mechanosensing in three-dimensional environments, in which matrix content, structure, and mechanics are often tightly interrelated. Stress fibers and the myosin motors therein represent an intriguing and functionally important biological system in which mechanics, biochemistry, and architecture all converge.

Impact of the Motor and Tail Domains of Class III Myosins on Regulating the Formation and Elongation of Actin Protrusions

Class III myosins (MYO3A and MYO3B) are proposed to function as transporters as well as length and ultrastructure regulators within stable actin-based protrusions such as stereocilia and calycal processes. MYO3A differs from MYO3B in that it contains an extended tail domain with an additional actin-binding motif. We examined how the properties of the motor and tail domains of human class III myosins impact their ability to enhance the formation and elongation of actin protrusions. Direct examination of the motor and enzymatic properties of human MYO3A and MYO3B revealed that MYO3A is a 2-fold faster motor with enhanced ATPase activity and actin affinity. A chimera in which the MYO3A tail was fused to the MYO3B motor demonstrated that motor activity correlates with formation and elongation of actin protrusions. We demonstrate that removal of individual exons (30-34) in the MYO3A tail does not prevent filopodia tip localization but abolishes the ability to enhance actin protrusion formation and elongation in COS7 cells. Interestingly, our results demonstrate that MYO3A slows filopodia dynamics and enhances filopodia lifetime in COS7 cells. We also demonstrate that MYO3A is more efficient than MYO3B at increasing formation and elongation of stable microvilli on the surface of cultured epithelial cells. We propose that the unique features of MYO3A, enhanced motor activity, and an extended tail with tail actin-binding motif, allow it to play an important role in stable actin protrusion length and ultrastructure maintenance.

A Combination of Diffusion and Active Translocation Localizes Myosin 10 to the Filopodial Tip

Myosin 10 is an actin-based molecular motor that localizes to the tips of filopodia in mammalian cells. To understand how it is targeted to this distinct region of the cell, we have used total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy to study the movement of individual full-length and truncated GFP-tagged molecules. Truncation mutants lacking the motor region failed to localize to filopodial tips but still bound transiently at the plasma membrane. Deletion of the single α-helical and anti-parallel coiled-coil forming regions, which lie between the motor and pleckstrin homology domains, reduced the instantaneous velocity of intrafilopodial movement but did not affect the number of substrate adherent filopodia. Deletion of the anti-parallel coiled-coil forming region, but not the EKR-rich region of the single α-helical domain, restored intrafilopodial trafficking, suggesting this region is important in determining myosin 10 motility. We propose a model by which myosin 10 rapidly targets to the filopodial tip via a sequential reduction in dimensionality. Molecules first undergo rapid diffusion within the three-dimensional volume of the cell body. They then exhibit periods of slower two-dimensional diffusion in the plane of the plasma membrane. Finally, they move in a unidimensional, highly directed manner along the polarized actin filament bundle within the filopodium becoming confined to a single point at the tip. Here we have observed directly each phase of the trafficking process using single molecule fluorescence imaging of live cells and have quantified our observations using single particle tracking, autocorrelation analysis, and kymographs.

Myosin-10 independently influences mitotic spindle structure and mitotic progression

The iconic bipolar structure of the mitotic spindle is of extreme importance to proper spindle function. At best, spindle abnormalities result in a delayed mitosis, while worse outcomes include cell death or disease. Recent work has uncovered an important role for the actin-based motor protein myosin-10 in the regulation of spindle structure and function. Here we examine the contribution of the myosin tail homology 4 (MyTH4) domain of the myosin-10 tail to the protein's spindle functions. The MyTH4 domain is known to mediate binding to microtubules and we verify the suspicion that this domain contributes to myosin-10's close association with the spindle. More surprisingly, our data demonstrate that some but not all of myosin-10's spindle functions require microtubule binding. In particular, myosin-10's contribution to spindle pole integrity requires microtubule binding, whereas its contribution to normal mitotic progression does not. This is demonstrated by the observation that dominant negative expression of the wild-type MyTH4 domain produces multipolar spindles and an increased mitotic index, whereas overexpression of a version of the MyTH4 domain harboring point mutations that abrogate microtubule binding results in only the mitotic index phenotype. Our data suggest that myosin-10 helps to control the metaphase to anaphase transition in cells independent of microtubule binding. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

A Novel Systems-Biology Algorithm for the Analysis of Coordinated Protein Responses Using Quantitative Proteomics

The coordinated behavior of proteins is central to systems biology. However, the underlying mechanisms are poorly known and methods to analyze coordination by conventional quantitative proteomics are still lacking. We present the Systems Biology Triangle (SBT), a new algorithm that allows the study of protein coordination by pairwise quantitative proteomics. The Systems Biology Triangle detected statistically significant coordination in diverse biological models of very different nature and subjected to different kinds of perturbations. The Systems Biology Triangle also revealed with unprecedented molecular detail an array of coordinated, early protein responses in vascular smooth muscle cells treated at different times with angiotensin-II. These responses included activation of protein synthesis, folding, turnover, and muscle contraction - consistent with a differentiated phenotype-as well as the induction of migration and the repression of cell proliferation and secretion. Remarkably, the majority of the altered functional categories were protein complexes, interaction networks, or metabolic pathways. These changes could not be detected by other algorithms widely used by the proteomics community, and the vast majority of proteins involved have not been described before to be regulated by AngII. The unique capabilities of The Systems Biology Triangle to detect functional protein alterations produced by the coordinated action of proteins in pairwise quantitative proteomics experiments make this algorithm an attractive choice for the biological interpretation of results on a routine basis.

Myo19 is an outer mitochondrial membrane motor and effector of starvation-induced filopodia

Mitochondria respond to environmental cues and stress conditions. Additionally, the disruption of the mitochondrial network dynamics and its distribution is implicated in a variety of neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we reveal a new function for Myo19 in mitochondrial dynamics and localization during the cellular response to glucose starvation. Ectopically expressed Myo19 localized with mitochondria to the tips of starvation-induced filopodia. Corollary to this, RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated knockdown of Myo19 diminished filopodia formation without evident effects on the mitochondrial network. We analyzed the Myo19-mitochondria interaction, and demonstrated that Myo19 is uniquely anchored to the outer mitochondrial membrane (OMM) through a 30-45-residue motif, indicating that Myo19 is a stably attached OMM molecular motor. Our work reveals a new function for Myo19 in mitochondrial positioning under stress.

Plasticity of tumor cell migration: acquisition of new properties or return to the past?

During tumor development cancer cells pass through several stages when cell morphology and migration abilities change remarkably. These stages are named epithelial-mesenchymal and mesenchymal-amoeboid transitions. The molecular mechanisms underlying cell motility are changing during these transitions. As result of transitions the cells acquire new characteristics and modes of motility. Cell migration becomes more independent from the environmental conditions, and thus cell dissemination becomes more aggressive, which leads to formation of distant metastases. In this review we discuss the characteristics of each of the transitions, cell morphology, and the specificity of cellular structures responsible for different modes of cell motility as well as molecular mechanisms regulating each transition.

Self-organization of waves and pulse trains by molecular motors in cellular protrusions

Actin-based cellular protrusions are an ubiquitous feature of cells, performing a variety of critical functions ranging from cell-cell communication to cell motility. The formation and maintenance of these protrusions relies on the transport of proteins via myosin motors, to the protrusion tip. While tip-directed motion leads to accumulation of motors (and their molecular cargo) at the protrusion tip, it is observed that motors also form rearward moving, periodic and isolated aggregates. The origins and mechanisms of these aggregates, and whether they are important for the recycling of motors, remain open puzzles. Motivated by novel myosin-XV experiments, a mass conserving reaction-diffusion-advection model is proposed. The model incorporates a non-linear cooperative interaction between motors, which converts them between an active and an inactive state. Specifically, the type of aggregate formed (traveling waves or pulse-trains) is linked to the kinetics of motors at the protrusion tip which is introduced by a boundary condition. These pattern selection mechanisms are found not only to qualitatively agree with empirical observations but open new vistas to the transport phenomena by molecular motors in general.

Myosin X regulates neuronal radial migration through interacting with N-cadherin

Proper brain function depends on correct neuronal migration during development, which is known to be regulated by cytoskeletal dynamics and cell-cell adhesion. Myosin X (Myo10), an uncharacteristic member of the myosin family, is an important regulator of cytoskeleton that modulates cell motilities in many different cellular contexts. We previously reported that Myo10 was required for neuronal migration in the developing cerebral cortex, but the underlying mechanism was still largely unknown. Here, we found that knockdown of Myo10 expression disturbed the adherence of migrating neurons to radial glial fibers through abolishing surface Neuronal cadherin (N-cadherin) expression, thereby impaired neuronal migration in the developmental cortex. Next, we found Myo10 interacted with N-cadherin cellular domain through its FERM domain. Furthermore, we found knockdown of Myo10 disrupted N-cadherin subcellular distribution and led to localization of N-cadherin into Golgi apparatus and endosomal sorting vesicle. Taking together, these results reveal a novel mechanism of Myo10 interacting with N-cadherin and regulating its cell-surface expression, which is required for neuronal adhesion and migration.

Dopamine transporter is enriched in filopodia and induces filopodia formation

Dopamine transporter (DAT, SLC6A3) controls dopamine (DA) neurotransmission by mediating re-uptake of extracellular DA into DA neurons. DA uptake depends on the amount of DAT at the cell surface, and is therefore regulated by DAT subcellular distribution. Hence we used spinning disk confocal microscopy to demonstrate DAT localization in membrane protrusions that contained filamentous actin and myosin X (MyoX), a molecular motor located in filopodia tips, thus confirming that these protrusions are filopodia. DAT was enriched in filopodia. In contrast, R60A and W63A DAT mutants with disrupted outward-facing conformation were not accumulated in filopodia, suggesting that this conformation is necessary for DAT filopodia targeting. Three independent approaches of filopodia counting showed that DAT expression leads to an increase in the number of filopodia per cell, indicating that DAT can induce filopodia formation. Depletion of MyoX by RNA interference resulted in a significant loss of filopodia but did not completely eliminate filopodia, implying that DAT-enriched filopodia can be formed without MyoX. In cultured postnatal DA neurons MyoX was mainly localized to growth cones that displayed highly dynamic DAT-containing filopodia. We hypothesize that the concave shape of the DAT molecule functions as the targeting determinant for DAT accumulation in outward-curved membrane domains, and may also allow high local concentrations of DAT to induce an outward membrane bending. Such targeting and membrane remodeling capacities may be part of the mechanism responsible for DAT enrichment in the filopodia and its targeting to the axonal processes of DA neurons.

Epithelial morphogenesis: the mouse eye as a model system

Morphogenesis is the developmental process by which tissues and organs acquire the shape that is critical to their function. Here, we review recent advances in our understanding of the mechanisms that drive morphogenesis in the developing eye. These investigations have shown that regulation of the actin cytoskeleton is central to shaping the presumptive lens and retinal epithelia that are the major components of the eye. Regulation of the actin cytoskeleton is mediated by Rho family GTPases, by signaling pathways and indirectly, by transcription factors that govern the expression of critical genes. Changes in the actin cytoskeleton can shape cells through the generation of filopodia (that, in the eye, connect adjacent epithelia) or through apical constriction, a process that produces a wedge-shaped cell. We have also learned that one tissue can influence the shape of an adjacent one, probably by direct force transmission, in a process we term inductive morphogenesis. Though these mechanisms of morphogenesis have been identified using the eye as a model system, they are likely to apply broadly where epithelia influence the shape of organs during development.

Myo10 is required for neurogenic cell adhesion and migration

Myosin X (Myo10), an untraditional member of myosin superfamily, is characterized as an actin-based molecular motor, which plays a critical role in diverse cellular motile events. Previous research by our group has found that Myo10 influenced neuronal radial migration in developing neocortex, but the underlying mechanism is still largely unknown. In this study, we found that knockdown of endogenous Myo10 in a normal gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neuronal cell line transfected with the large T antigen (NLT) induced the impairment of cell motility and orientation. In the wound healing assay, with the Golgi complex staining to display cell polarity, Myo10 knockdown cells were randomly oriented compared to the control. Furthermore, suppressing the expression of Myo10 decreased the ability of cell-matrix adhesion. N-cadherin, a calcium-dependent classical cell adhesion molecule, rescued the migration deficiency caused by Myo10 knockdown in cell aggregates and collagen gel assay. These results suggest that Myo10 is required for neurogenic cell migration through N-cadherin mediated cell adhesion.

Reconstitution of actin-based motility by vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) depends on the recruitment of F-actin seeds from the solution produced by cofilin

Vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) is active in many filopodium-based and cytoskeleton reorganization processes. It is not fully understood how VASP directly functions in actin-based motility and how regulatory proteins affect its function. Here, we combine bead motility assay and single filament experiments. In the presence of a bundling component, actin bundles that grow from the surface of WT-VASP-coated beads induced movement of the beads. VASP promotes actin-based movement alone, in the absence of other actin nucleators. We propose that at physiological salt conditions VASP nucleation activity is too weak to promote motility and bundle formation. Rather, VASP recruits F-actin seeds from the solution and promotes their elongation. Cofilin has a crucial role in the nucleation of these F-actin seeds, notably under conditions of unfavorable spontaneous actin nucleation. We explored the role of multiple VASP variants. We found that the VASP-F-actin binding domain is required for the recruitment of F-actin seeds from the solution. We also found that the interaction of profilin-actin complexes with the VASP-proline-rich domain and the binding of the VASP-F-actin binding domain to the side of growing filaments is critical for transforming actin polymerization into motion. At the single filament level, profilin mediates both filament elongation rate and VASP anti-capping activity. Binding of profilin-actin complexes increases the polymerization efficiency by VASP but decreases its efficiency as an anti-capper; binding of free profilin creates the opposite effect. Finally, we found that an additional component such as methylcellulose or fascin is required for actin bundle formation and motility mediated by VASP.

Elevated expression of myosin X in tumours contributes to breast cancer aggressiveness and metastasis

BACKGROUND

Myosin X (MYO10) was recently reported to promote tumour invasion by transporting integrins to filopodial tips in breast cancer. However, the role of MYO10 in tumours remains poorly defined. Here, we report that MYO10 is required in invadopodia to mediate invasive growth and extracellular matrix degradation, which depends on the binding of MYO10's pleckstrin homology domain to PtdIns(3,4,5)P3.

METHODS

The expression of MYO10 and its associations with clinicopathological and biological factors were examined in breast cancer cells and breast cancer specimens (n=120). Cell migration and invasion were investigated after the silencing of MYO10. The ability of cells to form invadopodia was studied using a fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated gelatin degradation assay. A mouse model was established to study tumour invasive growth and metastasis in vivo.

RESULTS

Elevated MYO10 levels were correlated with oestrogen receptor status, progesterone receptor status, poor differentiation, and lymph node metastasis. Silencing MYO10 reduced cell migration and invasion. Invadopodia were responsible for MYO10's role in promoting invasion. Furthermore, decreased invasive growth and lung metastasis were observed in the MYO10-silenced nude mouse model.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that elevated MYO10 expression increases the aggressiveness of breast cancer; this effect is dependent on the involvement of MYO10 in invadopodial formation.

Traffic jams and shocks of molecular motors inside cellular protrusions

Molecular motors are involved in key transport processes inside actin-based cellular protrusions. The motors carry cargo proteins to the protrusion tip which participate in regulating the actin polymerization and play a key role in facilitating the growth and formation of such protrusions. It is observed that the motors accumulate at the tips of cellular protrusions and form aggregates that are found to drift towards the protrusion base at the rate of actin treadmilling. We present a one-dimensional driven lattice model, where motors become inactive after delivering their cargo at the tip, or by loosing their cargo to a cargoless neighbor. The results suggest that the experimental observations may be explained by the formation of traffic jams that form at the tip. The model is solved using a novel application of mean-field and shock analysis. We find a new class of shocks that undergo intermittent collapses. Extensions with attachment and detachment events and relevance to experiments are briefly described.

Cloning, characterization, and promoter analysis of mouse Myo10 gene

Myosin X (Myo10) is an unconventional myosin associated with filopodia motility. Recent studies show that in addition to full-length Myo10, brain expresses a shorter form of Myo10 that lacks a myosin motor domain named headless Myo10. Herein, we analyzed and cloned 2-kb of the 5'-upstream sequences of mouse full-length Myo10 (fMyo10) and headless Myo10 (hMyo10) to understand the transcriptional regulation of the Myo10 gene. The putative transcription factor binding sites and CpG island were analyzed by a bioinformatic approach. Luciferase reporter assays showed that the 2-kb of 5'-upstream sequences of both fMyo10 and hMyo10 had promoter activities.

Actin structure-dependent stepping of myosin 5a and 10 during processive movement

How myosin 10, an unconventional myosin, walks processively along actin is still controversial. Here, we used single molecule fluorescence techniques, TIRF and FIONA, to study the motility and the stepping mechanism of dimerized myosin 10 heavy-meromyosin-like fragment on both single actin filaments and two-dimensional F-actin rafts cross-linked by fascin or α-actinin. As a control, we also tracked and analyzed the stepping behavior of the well characterized processive motor myosin 5a. We have shown that myosin 10 moves processively along both single actin filaments and F-actin rafts with a step size of 31 nm. Moreover, myosin 10 moves more processively on fascin-F-actin rafts than on α-actinin-F-actin rafts, whereas myosin 5a shows no such selectivity. Finally, on fascin-F-actin rafts, myosin 10 has more frequent side steps to adjacent actin filaments than myosin 5a in the F-actin rafts. Together, these results reveal further single molecule features of myosin 10 on various actin structures, which may help to understand its cellular functions.

Myosin X and its motorless isoform differentially modulate dendritic spine development by regulating trafficking and retention of vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein

Myosin X (Myo10) is an unconventional myosin with two known isoforms: full-length (FL)-Myo10 that has motor activity, and a recently identified brain-expressed isoform, headless (Hdl)-Myo10, which lacks most of the motor domain. FL-Myo10 is involved in the regulation of filopodia formation in non-neuronal cells; however, the biological function of Hdl-Myo10 remains largely unknown. Here, we show that FL- and Hdl-Myo10 have important, but distinct, roles in the development of dendritic spines and synapses in hippocampal neurons. FL-Myo10 induces formation of dendritic filopodia and modulates filopodia dynamics by trafficking the actin-binding protein vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) to the tips of filopodia. By contrast, Hdl-Myo10 acts on dendritic spines to enhance spine and synaptic density as well as spine head expansion by increasing the retention of VASP in spines. Thus, this study demonstrates a novel biological function for Hdl-Myo10 and an important new role for both Myo10 isoforms in the development of dendritic spines and synapses.

Filopodia as sensors

Filopodia are sensors on both excitable and non-excitable cells. The sensing function is well documented in neurons and blood vessels of adult animals and is obvious during dorsal closure in embryonic development. Nerve cells extend neurites in a bidirectional fashion with growth cones at the tips where filopodia are concentrated. Their sensing of environmental cues underpins the axon's ability to "guide," bypassing non-target cells and moving toward the target to be innervated. This review focuses on the role of filopodia structure and dynamics in the detection of environmental cues, including both the extracellular matrix (ECM) and the surfaces of neighboring cells. Other protrusions including the stereocilia of the inner ear and epididymus, the invertebrate Type I mechanosensors, and the elongated processes connecting osteocytes, share certain principles of organization with the filopodia. Actin bundles, which may be inside or outside of the excitable cell, function to transduce stress from physical perturbations into ion signals. There are different ways of detecting such perturbations. Osteocyte processes contain an actin core and are physically anchored on an extracellular structure by integrins. Some Type I mechanosensors have bridge proteins that anchor microtubules to the membrane, but bundles of actin in accessory cells exert stress on this complex. Hair cells of the inner ear rely on attachments between the actin-based protrusions to activate ion channels, which then transduce signals to afferent neurons. In adherent filopodia, the focal contacts (FCs) integrated with ECM proteins through integrins may regulate integrin-coupled ion channels to achieve signal transduction. Issues that are not understood include the role of Ca(2+) influx in filopodia dynamics and how integrins coordinate or gate signals arising from perturbation of channels by environmental cues.

Myosin-1c regulates the dynamic stability of E-cadherin-based cell-cell contacts in polarized Madin-Darby canine kidney cells

Myo1c knockdown causes defects in E-cadherin localization, E-cadherin binding, and cell–cell contact of Madin–Darby canine kidney cells. Expression of wild-type Myo1c, but not motor-dead mutants or those unable to bind membrane, reverses the phenotype, evidence that Myo1c modulates the assembly/maintenance of adherens junctions.

Cooperation between cadherins and the actin cytoskeleton controls the formation and maintenance of cell–cell adhesions in epithelia. We find that the molecular motor protein myosin-1c (Myo1c) regulates the dynamic stability of E-cadherin–based cell–cell contacts. In Myo1c-depleted Madin–Darby canine kidney cells, E-cadherin localization was dis­organized and lateral membranes appeared less vertical with convoluted edges versus control cells. In polarized monolayers, Myo1c-knockdown (KD) cells were more sensitive to reduced calcium concentration. Myo1c separated in the same plasma membrane fractions as E-cadherin, and Myo1c KD caused a significant reduction in the amount of E-cadherin recovered in one peak fraction. Expression of green fluorescent protein (GFP)–Myo1c mutants revealed that the phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate–binding site is necessary for its localization to cell–cell adhesions, and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching assays with GFP-Myo1c mutants revealed that motor function was important for Myo1c dynamics at these sites. At 18°C, which inhibits vesicle recycling, Myo1c-KD cells accumulated more E-cadherin–positive vesicles in their cytoplasm, suggesting that Myo1c affects E-cadherin endocytosis. Studies with photoactivatable GFP–E-cadherin showed that Myo1c KD reduced the stability of E-cadherin at cell–cell adhesions. We conclude that Myo1c stabilizes E-cadherin at adherens junctions in polarized epithelial cells and that the motor function and ability of Myo1c to bind membrane are critical.

Immunolocalization of the tumor-sensitive calmodulin-like protein CALML3 in normal human skin and hyperproliferative skin disorders

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Calmodulin-like protein CALML3 is an epithelial-specific protein regulated during keratinocyte differentiation in vitro. CALML3 expression is downregulated in breast cancers and transformed cell lines making it an attractive marker for tumor formation. The objective of this study was to survey CALML3 localization in normal epidermis and in hyperproliferative skin diseases including actinic keratosis, squamous and basal cell carcinoma as well as verruca and psoriasis and to compare CALML3 immunoreactivity with the proliferation marker Ki-67.

METHODS

Paraffin-embedded tissue sections from normal human skin and hyperproliferative skin disorders were examined by immunohistochemistry and analyzed for localization and expression of CALML3 and Ki-67.

RESULTS

CALML3 was strongly expressed in differentiating layers of normal skin, staining the periphery in suprabasal cells and exhibiting nuclear localization in the stratum granulosum. CALML3 nuclear localization was inversely correlated to Ki-67 staining in each disease, indicating that CALML3 nuclear presence is related to terminal cell differentiation and postmitotic state.

CONCLUSIONS

Increased CALML3 expression in suprabasal layers is characteristic for differentiating keratinocytes in normal epidermis, and nuclear expression of CALML3 inversely correlates with expression of the proliferation marker Ki-67. This suggests that CALML3 is a useful marker for normal and benign hyperplastic epidermal development, whereas the loss of nuclear CALML3 indicates progression to a proliferative and potentially malignant phenotype.

Fluxes of water through aquaporin 9 weaken membrane-cytoskeleton anchorage and promote formation of membrane protrusions

All modes of cell migration require rapid rearrangements of cell shape, allowing the cell to navigate within narrow spaces in an extracellular matrix. Thus, a highly flexible membrane and a dynamic cytoskeleton are crucial for rapid cell migration. Cytoskeleton dynamics and tension also play instrumental roles in the formation of different specialized cell membrane protrusions, viz. lamellipodia, filopodia, and membrane blebs. The flux of water through membrane-anchored water channels, known as aquaporins (AQPs) has recently been implicated in the regulation of cell motility, and here we provide novel evidence for the role of AQP9 in the development of various forms of membrane protrusion. Using multiple imaging techniques and cellular models we show that: (i) AQP9 induced and accumulated in filopodia, (ii) AQP9-associated filopodial extensions preceded actin polymerization, which was in turn crucial for their stability and dynamics, and (iii) minute, local reductions in osmolarity immediately initiated small dynamic bleb-like protrusions, the size of which correlated with the reduction in osmotic pressure. Based on this, we present a model for AQP9-induced membrane protrusion, where the interplay of water fluxes through AQP9 and actin dynamics regulate the cellular protrusive and motile activity of cells.

Both Myosin-10 isoforms are required for radial neuronal migration in the developing cerebral cortex

During embryonic development of the mammalian cerebral cortex, postmitotic cortical neurons migrate radially from the ventricular zone to the cortical plate. Proper migration involves the correct orientation of migrating neurons and the transition from a multipolar to a mature bipolar morphology. Herein, we report that the 2 isoforms of Myosin-10 (Myo10) play distinct roles in the regulation of radial migration in the mouse cortex. We show that the full-length Myo10 (fMyo10) isoform is located in deeper layers of the cortex and is involved in establishing proper migration orientation. We also demonstrate that fMyo10-dependent orientation of radial migration is mediated at least in part by the netrin-1 receptor deleted in colorectal cancer. Moreover, we show that the headless Myo10 (hMyo10) isoform is required for the transition from multipolar to bipolar morphologies in the intermediate zone. Our study reveals divergent functions for the 2 Myo10 isoforms in controlling both the direction of migration and neuronal morphogenesis during radial cortical neuronal migration.

Controlling the cortical actin motor

Actin is the essential force-generating component of the microfilament system, which powers numerous motile processes in eukaryotic cells and undergoes dynamic remodeling in response to different internal and external signaling. The ability of actin to polymerize into asymmetric filaments is the inherent property behind the site-directed force-generating capacity that operates during various intracellular movements and in surface protrusions. Not surprisingly, a broad variety of signaling pathways and components are involved in controlling and coordinating the activities of the actin microfilament system in a myriad of different interactions. The characterization of these processes has stimulated cell biologists for decades and has, as a consequence, resulted in a huge body of data. The purpose here is to present a cellular perspective on recent advances in our understanding of the microfilament system with respect to actin polymerization, filament structure and specific folding requirements.

Antiparallel coiled-coil-mediated dimerization of myosin X

Processive movements of unconventional myosins on actin filaments generally require motor dimerization. A commonly accepted myosin dimerization mechanism is via formation of a parallel coiled-coil dimer by a stretch of amino acid residues immediately carboxyl-terminal to the motor's lever-arm domain. Here, we discover that the predicted coiled-coil region of myosin X forms a highly stable, antiparallel coiled-coil dimer (anti-CC). Disruption of the anti-CC either by single-point mutations or by replacement of the anti-CC with a parallel coiled coil with a similar length compromised the filopodial induction activity of myosin X. We further show that the anti-CC and the single α-helical domain of myosin X are connected by a semirigid helical linker. The anti-CC-mediated dimerization may enable myosin X to walk on both single and bundled actin filaments.

PtdIns (3,4,5) P3 recruitment of Myo10 is essential for axon development

Myosin X (Myo10) with pleckstrin homology (PH) domains is a motor protein acting in filopodium initiation and extension. However, its potential role has not been fully understood, especially in neuronal development. In the present study the preferential accumulation of Myo10 in axon tips has been revealed in primary culture of hippocampal neurons with the aid of immunofluorescence from anti-Myo10 antibody in combination with anti-Tuj1 antibody as specific marker. Knocking down Myo10 gene transcription impaired outgrowth of axon with loss of Tau-1-positive phenotype. Interestingly, inhibition of actin polymerization by cytochalasin D rescued the defect of axon outgrowth. Furthermore, ectopic expression of Myo10 with enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP) labeled Myo10 mutants induced multiple axon-like neurites in a motor-independent way. Mechanism studies demonstrated that the recruitment of Myo10 through its PH domain to phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-trisphosphate (PtdIns (3,4,5) P3) was essential for axon formation. In addition, in vivo studies confirmed that Myo10 was required for neuronal morphological transition during radial neuronal migration in the developmental neocortex.

Myosin-X: a MyTH-FERM myosin at the tips of filopodia

Myosin-X (Myo10) is an unconventional myosin with MyTH4-FERM domains that is best known for its striking localization to the tips of filopodia and its ability to induce filopodia. Although the head domain of Myo10 enables it to function as an actin-based motor, its tail contains binding sites for several molecules with central roles in cell biology, including phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-trisphosphate, microtubules and integrins. Myo10 also undergoes fascinating long-range movements within filopodia, which appear to represent a newly recognized system of transport. Myo10 is also unusual in that it is a myosin with important roles in the spindle, a microtubule-based structure. Exciting new studies have begun to reveal the structure and single-molecule properties of this intriguing myosin, as well as its mechanisms of regulation and induction of filopodia. At the cellular and organismal level, growing evidence demonstrates that Myo10 has crucial functions in numerous processes ranging from invadopodia formation to cell migration.

Differential regulation of myosin X movements by its cargos, DCC and neogenin

Myosin X (Myo X), also known as MYO10, is an unconventional actin-based motor protein that plays an important role in filopodium formation. Its intra-filopodia movement, an event tightly associated with the function of Myo X, has been extensively studied. However, how the motor activity of Myo X and the direction of its movements are regulated remains largely unknown. In our previous study, we demonstrated that DCC (for 'deleted in colorectal carcinoma') and neogenin (neogenin 1, NEO1 or NGN), a family of immunoglobin-domain-containing transmembrane receptors for netrins, interact with Myo X and that DCC is a cargo of Myo X to be delivered to the neurites of cultured neurons. Here, we provide evidence for DCC and neogenin as regulators of Myo X. DCC promotes movement of Myo X along basal actin filaments and enhances Myo-X-mediated basal filopodium elongation. By contrast, neogenin appears to suppress Myo X movement on the basal side, but increases its movement towards the apical and dorsal side of a cell, promoting dorsal filopodium formation and growth. Further studies have demonstrated that DCC, but not neogenin, enhances integrin-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase and basal F-actin reorganization, providing a cellular mechanism underlying their distinct effects on Myo X. These results thus demonstrate differential regulatory roles on Myo X activity by its cargo proteins, DCC and neogenin, revealing different cellular functions of DCC and neogenin.

Filopodia and adhesion in cancer cell motility

Slender bundled actin containing plasma membrane protrusions, called filopodia, are important for many essential cellular processes like cell adhesion, migration, angiogenesis and the formation of cell-cell contacts. In migrating cells, filopodia are the pioneers at the leading edge which probe the environment for cues. Integrins are cell surface adhesion receptors critically implicated in cell migration and they are transported actively to filopodia tips by an unconventional myosin, myosin-X. Integrin mediated adhesion stabilizes filopodia and promotes cell migration even though integrins are not essential for filopodia initiation. Myosin-X binds also PIP3 and this regulates its activation and localization to filopodia. Filopodia stimulate cell migration in many cell types and increased filopodia density has been described in cancer. Furthermore, several proteins implicated in filopodia formation, like fascin, are also relevant for cancer progression. To investigate this further, we performed a meta-analysis of the expression profiles of 10 filopodia-linked genes in human breast cancer. These data implicated that several different filopodia inducing genes may contribute in a collective manner to cancer progression and the high metastasis rates associated with basal-type breast carcinomas.

Protein fluxes along the filopodium as a framework for understanding the growth-retraction dynamics: the interplay between diffusion and active transport

We present a picture of filopodial growth and retraction from physics perspective, where we emphasize the significance of the role played by protein fluxes due to spatially extended nature of the filopodium. We review a series of works, which used stochastic simulations and mean field analytical modeling to find the concentration profile of G-actin inside a filopodium, which, in turn, determines the stationary filopodial length. In addition to extensively reviewing the prior works, we also report some new results on the role of active transport in regulating the length of filopodia. We model a filopodium where delivery of actin monomers towards the tip can occur both through passive diffusion and active transport by myosin motors. We found that the concentration profile of G-actin along the filopodium is rather non-trivial, containing a narrow minimum near the base followed by a broad maximum. For efficient enough actin transport, this non-monotonous shape is expected to occur under a broad set of conditions. We also raise the issue of slow approach to the stationary length and the possibility of multiple steady state solutions.

mDia1 and WAVE2 proteins interact directly with IRSp53 in filopodia and are involved in filopodium formation

Filopodia are dynamic actin-rich cell surface protrusions involved in cell migration, axon guidance, and wound healing. The RhoGTPase Cdc42 generates filopodia via IRSp53, a multidomain protein that links the processes of plasma membrane deformation and actin dynamics required for their formation in mammalian cells. The Src homology 3 domain of IRSp53 binds to the actin regulators Mena, Eps8, WAVE1, WAVE2, mDia1, and mDia2. We show that mDia1 and WAVE2 synergize with IRSp53 to form filopodia. IRSp53 also interacts directly with these two proteins within filopodia, as observed in acceptor photobleaching FRET studies. Measurement of filopodium formation by time-lapse imaging of live cells also revealed that depleting neuronal cells of either mDia1 or WAVE2 protein decreases the ability of IRSp53 to induce filopodia. In contrast, IRSp53 does not appear to partner WAVE1 or mDia2 to give rise to these structures. In addition, although all three isoforms of mDia are capable of inducing filopodia, IRSp53 requires only mDia1 to do so. These findings suggest that mDia1 and WAVE2 are important Src homology 3 domain partners of IRSp53 in forming filopodia.

SrGAP3 interacts with lamellipodin at the cell membrane and regulates Rac-dependent cellular protrusions

SrGAP3/MEGAP is a member of the Slit-Robo GAP (srGAP) family and is implicated in repulsive axon guidance and neuronal migration through Slit-Robo-mediated signal transduction. Here we describe an inhibitory role of srGAP3 on actin dynamics, specifically on lamellipodia formation. We show that the F-BAR domain localizes srGAP3 to the leading edge of cellular protrusions whereas the SH3 domain is important for focal adhesion targeting. We report on a novel srGAP3 interaction partner, lamellipodin, which localizes with srGAP3 at the leading edge. Live-cell analyses revealed that srGAP3 influences lamellipodin-evoked lamellipodial dynamics. Furthermore, we show that mouse embryonic fibroblasts derived from homozygous srGAP3-knockout embryos display an increased cell area and lamellipodia formation that can be blocked by shRNA-mediated knockdown of lamellipodin.

A new role for the architecture of microvillar actin bundles in apical retention of membrane proteins

The bundled architecture of actin filaments is not needed for intestinal microvillar morphogenesis, as shown in knockout mice devoid of microvillar actin-bundling proteins. This architecture is essential for the apical anchorage of digestive proteins, probably via the recruitment of key players in apical retention, such as myosin-1a, and, as a result, for intestinal physiology.

Actin-bundling proteins are identified as key players in the morphogenesis of thin membrane protrusions. Until now, functional redundancy among the actin-bundling proteins villin, espin, and plastin-1 has prevented definitive conclusions regarding their role in intestinal microvilli. We report that triple knockout mice lacking these microvillar actin-bundling proteins suffer from growth delay but surprisingly still develop microvilli. However, the microvillar actin filaments are sparse and lack the characteristic organization of bundles. This correlates with a highly inefficient apical retention of enzymes and transporters that accumulate in subapical endocytic compartments. Myosin-1a, a motor involved in the anchorage of membrane proteins in microvilli, is also mislocalized. These findings illustrate, in vivo, a precise role for local actin filament architecture in the stabilization of apical cargoes into microvilli. Hence, the function of actin-bundling proteins is not to enable microvillar protrusion, as has been assumed, but to confer the appropriate actin organization for the apical retention of proteins essential for normal intestinal physiology.

Structural basis of the myosin X PH1(N)-PH2-PH1(C) tandem as a specific and acute cellular PI(3,4,5)P(3) sensor

The first PH domain of the myosin X cargo-binding domain is split into halves by insertion of another PH domain forming a PH1N-PH2-PH1C tandem. This tandem forms a rigid supramodule with the two lipid-binding pockets juxtaposed for cooperative binding to PI(3,4,5)P3-containing lipid membranes.

Myosin X (MyoX) is an unconventional myosin that is known to induce the formation and elongation of filopodia in many cell types. MyoX-induced filopodial induction requires the three PH domains in its tail region, although with unknown underlying molecular mechanisms. MyoX's first PH domain is split into halves by its second PH domain. We show here that the PH1_N-PH2-PH1_C tandem allows MyoX to bind to phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-triphosphate [PI(3,4,5)P₃] with high specificity and cooperativity. We further show that PH2 is responsible for the specificity of the PI(3,4,5)P₃ interaction, whereas PH1 functions to enhance the lipid membrane–binding avidity of the tandem. The structure of the MyoX PH1_N-PH2-PH1_C tandem reveals that the split PH1, PH2, and the highly conserved interdomain linker sequences together form a rigid supramodule with two lipid-binding pockets positioned side by side for binding to phosphoinositide membrane bilayers with cooperativity. Finally, we demonstrate that disruption of PH2-mediated binding to PI(3,4,5)P₃ abolishes MyoX's function in inducing filopodial formation and elongation.

Structural basis of cargo recognition by the myosin-X MyTH4-FERM domain

Myosin-X is implicated in spindle assembly and filopodial transport. A detailed structure function analysis of the myosin-X tail domain in association with a cargo involved in axonal pathfinding, the netrin receptor DCC and competitive binding to integrin β5 and microtubules is presented.

Myosin-X is an important unconventional myosin that is critical for cargo transportation to filopodia tips and is also utilized in spindle assembly by interacting with microtubules. We present a series of structural and biochemical studies of the myosin-X tail domain cassette, consisting of myosin tail homology 4 (MyTH4) and FERM domains in complex with its specific cargo, a netrin receptor DCC (deleted in colorectal cancer). The MyTH4 domain is folded into a helical VHS-like structure and is associated with the FERM domain. We found an unexpected binding mode of the DCC peptide to the subdomain C groove of the FERM domain, which is distinct from previously reported β–β associations found in radixin–adhesion molecule complexes. We also revealed direct interactions between the MyTH4–FERM cassette and tubulin C-terminal acidic tails, and identified a positively charged patch of the MyTH4 domain, which is involved in tubulin binding. We demonstrated that both DCC and integrin bindings interfere with microtubule binding and that DCC binding interferes with integrin binding. Our results provide the molecular basis by which myosin-X facilitates alternative dual binding to cargos and microtubules.

Rif-mDia1 interaction is involved in filopodium formation independent of Cdc42 and Rac effectors

Filopodia are cellular protrusions important for axon guidance, embryonic development, and wound healing. The Rho GTPase Cdc42 is the best studied inducer of filopodium formation, and several of its effectors and their interacting partners have been linked to the process. These include IRSp53, N-WASP, Mena, and Eps8. The Rho GTPase, Rif, also drives filopodium formation. The signaling pathway by which Rif induces filopodia is poorly understood, with mDia2 being the only protein implicated to date. It is thus not clear how distinct the Rif-driven pathway for filopodium formation is from the one mediated by Cdc42. In this study, we characterize the dynamics of Rif-induced filopodia by time lapse imaging of live neuronal cells and show that Rif drives filopodium formation via an independent pathway that does not involve the Cdc42 effectors N-WASP and IRSp53, the IRSp53 binding partner Mena, or the Rac effectors WAVE1 and WAVE2. Rif formed filopodia in the absence of N-WASP or Mena and when IRSp53, WAVE1, or WAVE2 was knocked down by RNAi. Rif-mediated filopodial protrusion was instead reduced by silencing mDia1 expression or overexpressing a dominant negative mutant of mDia1. mDia1 on its own was able to form filopodia. Data from acceptor photobleaching FRET studies of protein-protein interaction demonstrate that Rif interacts directly with mDia1 in filopodia but not with mDia2. Taken together, these results suggest a novel pathway for filopodia formation via Rif and mDia1.

The stepping pattern of myosin X is adapted for processive motility on bundled actin

Myosin X is a molecular motor that is adapted to select bundled actin filaments over single actin filaments for processive motility. Its unique form of motility suggests that myosin X's stepping mechanism takes advantage of the arrangement of actin filaments and the additional target binding sites found within a bundle. Here we use fluorescence imaging with one-nanometer accuracy to show that myosin X takes steps of ∼18 nm along a fascin-actin bundle. This step-size is well short of the 36-nm step-size observed in myosin V and myosin VI that corresponds to the actin pseudohelical repeat distance. Myosin X is able to walk along bundles with this step-size if it straddles two actin filaments, but would be quickly forced to spiral into the constrained interior of the bundle if it were to use only a single actin filament. We also demonstrate that myosin X takes many sideways steps as it walks along a bundle, suggesting that it can switch actin filament pairs within the bundle as it walks. Sideways steps to the left or the right occur on bundles with equal frequency, suggesting a degree of lateral flexibility such that the motor's working stroke does not bias it to the left or to the right. On single actin filaments, we find a broad mixture of 10-20-nm steps, which again falls short of the 36-nm actin repeat. Moreover, the motor leans to the right as it walks along single filaments, which may require myosin X to adopt strained configurations. As a control, we also tracked myosin V stepping along actin filaments and fascin-actin bundles. We find that myosin V follows a narrower path on both structures, walking primarily along one surface of an actin filament and following a single filament within a bundle while occasionally switching to neighboring filaments. Together, these results delineate some of the structural features of the motor and the track that allow myosin X to recognize actin filament bundles.

Distinct tissue distributions and subcellular localizations of differently phosphorylated forms of the myosin regulatory light chain in Drosophila

Nonmuscle myosin II (myosin hereafter) has well-established roles in generating contractile force on actin filaments during morphogenetic processes in all metazoans. Myosin activation is regulated by phosphorylation of the myosin regulatory light chain (MRLC, encoded by spaghettisquash or sqh in Drosophila) first on Ser21 and subsequently on Thr20. These phosphorylation events are positively controlled by a variety of kinases including myosin light chain kinase, Rho kinase, citron kinase, and AMP kinase and are negatively regulated by myosin phosphatase. The activation of myosin is thus highly regulated and likely developmentally controlled. In order to monitor the activity of myosin during development, we have generated antibodies against the monophosphorylated (Sqh1P) and diphosphorylated (Sqh2P) forms of Sqh. We first show that the antibodies are highly specific. We then used these antibodies to monitor myosin activation in wild type Drosophila tissues. Interestingly, Sqh1P and Sqh2P show distinct patterns of expression in embryos. Sqh1P is expressed nearly ubiquitously and outlines cells consistent with a junctional localization, whereas Sqh2P is strongly expressed on the apical surfaces and in filopodia of tissues undergoing extensive cell shape change or cell movements including the invaginating fore- and hindgut, the invaginating tracheal system, the dorsal pouch and the dorsal most row of epidermal (DME) cells during dorsal closure. In imaginal discs, Sqh1P predominantly localizes in the adherens junction, whereas Sqh2P locates to the apical domain. These antibodies thus have the potential to be very useful in monitoring myosin activation for functional studies of morphogenesis in Drosophila.

The transcription factor EGR1 regulates metastatic potential of v-src transformed sarcoma cells

Metastatic spreading of cancer cells is a highly complex process directed primarily by the interplay between tumor microenvironment, cell surface receptors, and actin cytoskeleton dynamics. To advance our understanding of metastatic cancer dissemination, we have developed a model system that is based on two v-src transformed chicken sarcoma cell lines-the highly metastatic parental PR9692 and a non-metastasizing but fully tumorigenic clonal derivative PR9692-E9. Oligonucleotide microarray analysis of both cell lines revealed that the gene encoding the transcription factor EGR1 was downregulated in the non-metastatic PR9692-E9 cells. Further investigation demonstrated that the introduction of exogenous EGR1 into PR9692-E9 cells restored their metastatic potential to a level indistinguishable from parental PR9692 cells. Microarray analysis of EGR1 reconstituted cells revealed the activation of genes that are crucial for actin cytoskeleton contractility (MYL9), filopodia formation (MYO10), the production of specific extracellular matrix components (HAS2, COL6A1-3) and other essential pro-metastatic abilities.

Intermolecular autophosphorylation regulates myosin IIIa activity and localization in parallel actin bundles

Myosin IIIa (Myo3A) transports cargo to the distal end of actin protrusions and contains a kinase domain that is thought to autoregulate its activity. Because Myo3A tends to cluster at the tips of actin protrusions, we investigated whether intermolecular phosphorylation could regulate Myo3A biochemical activity, cellular localization, and cellular function. Inactivation of Myo3A 2IQ kinase domain with the point mutation K50R did not alter maximal ATPase activity, whereas phosphorylation of Myo3A 2IQ resulted in reduced maximal ATPase activity and actin affinity. The rate and degree of Myo3A 2IQ autophosphorylation was unchanged by the presence of actin but was found to be dependent upon Myo3A 2IQ concentration within the range of 0.1 to 1.2 μm, indicating intermolecular autophosphorylation. In cultured cells, we observed that the filopodial tip localization of Myo3A lacking the kinase domain decreased when co-expressed with kinase-active, full-length Myo3A. The cellular consequence of reduced Myo3A tip localization was decreased filopodial density along the cell periphery, identifying a novel cellular function for Myo3A in mediating the formation and stability of actin-based protrusions. Our results suggest that Myo3A motor activity is regulated through a mechanism involving concentration-dependent autophosphorylation. We suggest that this regulatory mechanism plays an essential role in mediating the transport and actin bundle formation/stability functions of Myo3A.

Design of active transport must be highly intricate: a possible role of myosin and Ena/VASP for G-actin transport in filopodia

Recent modeling of filopodia--the actin-based cell organelles employed for sensing and motility--reveals that one of the key limiting factors of filopodial length is diffusional transport of G-actin monomers to the polymerizing barbed ends. We have explored the possibility of active transport of G-actin by myosin motors, which would be an expected biological response to overcome the limitation of a diffusion-based process. We found that in a straightforward implementation of active transport the increase in length was unimpressive, < or = 30%, due to sequestering of G-actin by freely diffusing motors. However, artificially removing motor sequestration reactions led to approximately threefold increases in filopodial length, with the transport being mainly limited by the motors failing to detach from the filaments near the tip, clogging the cooperative conveyer belt dynamics. Making motors sterically transparent led to a qualitative change of the dynamics to a different regime of steady growth without a stationary length. Having identified sequestration and clogging as ubiquitous constraints to motor-driven transport, we devised and tested a speculative means to sidestep these limitations in filopodia by employing cross-linking and putative scaffolding roles of Ena/VASP proteins. We conclude that a naïve design of molecular-motor-based active transport would almost always be inefficient--an intricately organized kinetic scheme, with finely tuned rate constants, is required to achieve high-flux transport.

Structured post-IQ domain governs selectivity of myosin X for fascin-actin bundles

Without guidance cues, cytoskeletal motors would traffic components to the wrong destination with disastrous consequences for the cell. Recently, we identified a motor protein, myosin X, that identifies bundled actin filaments for transport. These bundles direct myosin X to a unique destination, the tips of cellular filopodia. Because the structural and kinetic features that drive bundle selection are unknown, we employed a domain-swapping approach with the nonselective myosin V to identify the selectivity module of myosin X. We found a surprising role of the myosin X tail region (post-IQ) in supporting long runs on bundles. Moreover, the myosin X head is adapted for initiating processive runs on bundles. We found that the tail is structured and biases the orientation of the two myosin X heads because a targeted insertion that introduces flexibility in the tail abolishes selectivity. Together, these results suggest how myosin motors may manage to read cellular addresses.

Actin, microtubules, and vimentin intermediate filaments cooperate for elongation of invadopodia

Microtubules and intermediate filaments cooperate with actin and other components of filopodia during invadopodia maturation.

Invasive cancer cells are believed to breach the basement membrane (BM) using specialized protrusions called invadopodia. We found that the crossing of a native BM is a three-stage process: invadopodia indeed form and perforate the BM, elongate into mature invadopodia, and then guide the cell toward the stromal compartment. We studied the remodeling of cytoskeleton networks during invadopodia formation and elongation using ultrastructural analysis, spatial distribution of molecular markers, and RNA interference silencing of protein expression. We show that formation of invadopodia requires only the actin cytoskeleton and filopodia- and lamellipodia-associated proteins. In contrast, elongation of invadopodia is mostly dependent on filopodial actin machinery. Moreover, intact microtubules and vimentin intermediate filament networks are required for further growth. We propose that invadopodia form by assembly of dendritic/diagonal and bundled actin networks and then mature by elongation of actin bundles, followed by the entry of microtubules and vimentin filaments. These findings provide a link between the epithelial to mesenchymal transition and BM transmigration.

Myosin-X induces filopodia by multiple elongation mechanism

Filopodia are actin-rich finger-like cytoplasmic projections extending from the leading edge of cells. Unconventional myosin-X is involved in the protrusion of filopodia. However, the underlying mechanism of myosin-X-induced filopodia formation is obscure. Here, we studied the movements of myosin-X during filopodia protrusion using a total internal reflection microscope to clarify the mechanism of myosin-X-induced filopodia formation. Myosin-X was recruited to the discrete site at the leading edge where it assembles with exponential kinetics before the filopodia extension. The myosin-X-induced filopodia showed repeated extension-retraction cycles with each extension of 2.4 microm, which was critical to produce long filopodia. Myosin-X, lacking the FERM domain, could move to the tip as does the wild type. However, it was transported toward the cell body during filopodia retraction, did not undergo multiple extension-retraction cycles, and failed to produce long filopodia. During the filopodia protrusion, the single molecules of full-length myosin-X moved within filopodia. The majority of the fluorescence spots showed two-step photobleaching, suggesting that the moving myosin-X is a dimer. Deletion of the FERM domain did not change the movement at the single molecule level with the same velocity of approximately 600 nm/s as wild-type, suggesting that the myosin-X in filopodia moves without interaction with the attached membrane via the FERM domain. Based upon these results, we have proposed a model of myosin-X-induced filopodia protrusion.

An unconventional myosin required for cell polarization and chemotaxis

MyTH/FERM (myosin tail homology 4/band 4.1, ezrin, radixin, and moesin) myosins have roles in cellular adhesion, extension of actin-filled projections such as filopodia and stereocilia, and directional migration. The amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum expresses a simple complement of MyTH/FERM myosins, a class VII (M7) myosin required for cell-substrate adhesion and a unique myosin named MyoG. Mutants lacking MyoG exhibit a wide range of normal actin-based behaviors, including chemotaxis to folic acid, but have a striking defect in polarization and chemotaxis to cAMP. Although the myoG mutants respond to cAMP stimulation by increasing persistence and weakly increasing levels of cortical F-actin, they do not polarize; instead, they maintain a round shape and move slowly and randomly when exposed to a chemotactic gradient. The mutants also fail to activate and localize PI3K to the membrane closest to the source of chemoattractant. These data reveal a role for a MyTH/FERM myosin in mediating early chemotactic signaling and suggest that MyTH/FERM proteins have conserved roles in signaling and the generation of cell polarity.

Single-molecule stepping and structural dynamics of myosin X

Myosin X is an unconventional myosin with puzzling motility properties. We studied the motility of dimerized myosin X using the single-molecule fluorescence techniques polTIRF, FIONA and Parallax to measure the rotation angles and three-dimensional position of the molecule during its walk. It was found that Myosin X steps processively in a hand-over-hand manner following a left-handed helical path along both single actin filaments and bundles. Its step size and velocity are smaller on actin bundles than individual filaments, suggesting myosin X often steps onto neighboring filaments in a bundle. The data suggest that a previously postulated single alpha-helical domain mechanically extends the lever arm, which has three IQ motifs, and either the neck-tail hinge or the tail is flexible. These structural features, in conjunction with the membrane- and microtubule-binding domains, enable myosin X to perform multiple functions on varied actin structures in cells.