A rod domain sequence in segment 1B triggers dimerisation of the two small Branchiostoma IF proteins B2 and A3

The long protostomic-type cytoplasmic intermediate filament (cIF) protein in Branchiostoma supports the phylogenetic transition between the protostomic- and the chordate-type cIFs

We identified 23 and 20 cytoplasmic IF (cIF) genes in the two Branchiostoma belcheri and Branchiostoma lanceolatum cephalochordates, respectively. Combining these results with earlier data on the related Branchiostoma floridae, the following conclusions can be drawn. First, the Branchiostoma N4 protein with a long lamin-like coil 1B segment is the only protostomic-type cIF found so far in any analysed chordate or vertebrate organism. Second, Branchiostoma is the only organism known so far containing both the long protostomic- and the short chordate-prototypes of cIFs. This finding provides so far missing molecular evidence for the phylogenetic transition between the protostomic- and the chordate-type IF sequences at the base of the cephalochordates and vertebrates. Third, this finding also brings some support for another hypothesis, that the long protostomic-type cIF is subjected to evolutionary constraints in order to preclude inappropriate interactions with lamin and that the latter complexes might be prevented by a several heptad-long rod deletion, which released the selective constraints on it and promoted, at least in part, its expansion in nematodes, cephalochordates, and in vertebrates. Finally, here-presented data confirmed our previous results that cephalochordates do not have any vertebrate type III or type IV IF homolog.

Promiscuous Dimerization Between the Caenorhabditis elegans IF Proteins and a Hypothesis to Explain How Multiple IFs Persist Over Evolutionary Time

Our previous calculations of ionic interactions indicated that the Caenorhabditis elegans intermediate filament (IF) IFA proteins, in addition to IFA/IFB-1 heterodimers, may also form homodimers. In order to prove the significance of these calculations, we analysed the dimerization potential of the IFA chains in blot overlays. Unexpectedly, we found here that the dimerization of the IFA-1 protein was of both homotypic and heterotypic nature, and involved all proteins immobilized on the membrane (IFA-1, IFA-2, IFA-4, IFB-1, IFB-2, IFC-1, IFC-2, IFD-1, IFD-2 and IFP-1). A similar interaction profile, though less complex, was observed for two biotinylated proteins (IFA-2 and IFA-4). These and previous results indicate that the IFA proteins are able to form many different heteropolymeric and homopolymeric complexes in the C. elegans tissue, but that only those triggered by the IFA-specific IFB-1 protein result in mature IFs. Moreover, the calculations of the possible ionic interactions between the individual rod sequences as well as their various deletion variants indicated a special role in this process for the middle part of the C. elegans IF coil 1B segment that is deleted in all vertebrate cytoplasmic IFs. We hypothesized here, therefore, that the striking promiscuity of the C. elegans IFs originally involved a nuclear lamin which, due to a two-heptad-long rod deletion, prevented formation of a functional lamin/cIF dimer. This, in concert with an efficient dimerization and a strict tissue-specific co-expression, may allow expansion and maintenance of the multiple Caenorhabditis IFs. A possible implication for evolution of chordate IFs proteins is also discussed.

Unusual ultrastructures of the Branchiostoma IF protein C2 containing heptads in the tail

Branchiostoma intermediate filament (IF) protein C2 contains a long tail domain consisting of several degenerate repeats which display a heptad repeat pattern. This unique tail sequence is predicted to constitute a long coiled coil domain in C2, which is separated from the rod by a glycine-rich linker L3. The recombinant IF protein C2 shows, in electron microscopy (EM), parallel rodlike dimers of 66.7 nm decorated by a larger globule on one side and a smaller globule on the other side. In contrast, the length of the tailless C2 dimers, decorated by only one small globule, is about 26 nm shorter. These results indicate that both the rod domain and the newly predicted coiled coil segment 3 participate in the formation of a double-stranded coiled coil dimer. Moreover, the two to four C2 dimers are able to associate via their globular tail domain into multiarm oligomers, an ability not seen by the tailless C2 mutant or the other currently known protostomic and vertebrate IFs.