Effect of ATP on actin filament stiffness

High-resolution yeast actin structures indicate the molecular mechanism of actin filament stiffening by cations

Actin filament assembly and the regulation of its mechanical properties are fundamental processes essential for eukaryotic cell function. Residue E167 in vertebrate actins forms an inter-subunit salt bridge with residue K61 of the adjacent subunit. Saccharomyces cerevisiae actin filaments are more flexible than vertebrate filaments and have an alanine at this position (A167). Substitution of this alanine for a glutamic acid (A167E) confers Saccharomyces cerevisiae actin filaments with salt-dependent stiffness similar to vertebrate actins. We developed an optimized cryogenic electron microscopy workflow refining sample preparation and vitrification to obtain near-atomic resolution structures of wild-type and A167E mutant Saccharomyces cerevisiae actin filaments. The difference between these structures allowed us to pinpoint the potential binding site of a filament-associated cation that controls the stiffness of the filaments in vertebrate and A167E Saccharomyces cerevisiae actins. Through an analysis of previously published high-resolution reconstructions of vertebrate actin filaments, along with a newly determined high-resolution vertebrate actin structure in the absence of potassium, we identified a unique peak near residue 167 consistent with the binding of a magnesium ion. Our findings show how magnesium can contribute to filament stiffening by directly bridging actin subunits and allosterically affecting the orientation of the DNase-I binding loop of actin, which plays a regulatory role in modulating actin filament stiffness and interactions with regulatory proteins.

Effect of the Rho-Kinase/ROCK Signaling Pathway on Cytoskeleton Components

The mechanical properties of cells are important in tissue homeostasis and enable cell growth, division, migration and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Mechanical properties are determined to a large extent by the cytoskeleton. The cytoskeleton is a complex and dynamic network composed of microfilaments, intermediate filaments and microtubules. These cellular structures confer both cell shape and mechanical properties. The architecture of the networks formed by the cytoskeleton is regulated by several pathways, a key one being the Rho-kinase/ROCK signaling pathway. This review describes the role of ROCK (Rho-associated coiled-coil forming kinase) and how it mediates effects on the key components of the cytoskeleton that are critical for cell behaviour.

Dynamics of the Actin Cytoskeleton at Adhesion Complexes

The shape of cells is altered to allow cells to adapt to their changing environments, including responding to internally generated and externally applied force. Force is sensed by cell surface adhesion proteins that are enriched in sites where cells bind to the extracellular matrix (focal adhesions) and neighboring cells (cell-cell or adherens junctions). Receptors at these adhesion sites stimulate intracellular signal transduction cascades that culminate in dramatic changes in the actin cytoskeleton. New actin filaments form, and/or new and existing filaments can be cleaved, branched, or bundled. Here, we discuss the actin cytoskeleton and its functions. We will examine the current understanding for how the actin cytoskeleton is tethered to adhesion sites. Finally, we will highlight recent studies describing how the actin cytoskeleton at these adhesion sites is remodeled in response to force.

Combined electrochemistry and mass spectrometry imaging to interrogate the mechanism of action of modafinil, a cognition-enhancing drug, at the cellular and sub-cellular level

Modafinil is a mild psychostimulant-like drug enhancing wakefulness, improving attention and developing performance in various cognitive tasks, but its mechanism of action is not completely understood. This is the first combination of amperometry, electrochemical cytometry and mass spectrometry to interrogate the mechanism of action of a drug, here modafinil, at cellular and sub-cellular level. We employed single-cell amperometry (SCA) and intracellular vesicle impact electrochemical cytometry (IVIEC) to investigate the alterations in exocytotic release and vesicular catecholamine storage following modafinil treatment. The SCA results reveal that modafinil slows down the exocytosis process so that, the number of catecholamines released per exocytotic event is enhanced in the modafinil-treated cells. Also, IVIEC results offer an upregulation effect of modafinil on the vesicular catecholamine storage. Mass spectrometry imaging by time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) illustrates that treatment with modafinil reduces the cylindrical-shaped phosphatidylcholine at the cellular membrane, while the high curvature lipids with conical structures such as phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylinositol are elevated after modafinil treatment. Combining the results obtained by SCA, IVIEC and ToF-SIMS suggests that modafinil-treated cells release a larger portion of their vesicular content at least in part by changing the lipid composition of the cell membrane, suggesting regulation of cognition.

Actin cytoskeleton deregulation confers midostaurin resistance in FLT3-mutant acute myeloid leukemia

The presence of FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3-internal tandem duplication (FLT3-ITD) is one of the most frequent mutations in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and is associated with an unfavorable prognosis. FLT3 inhibitors, such as midostaurin, are used clinically but fail to entirely eradicate FLT3-ITD + AML. This study introduces a new perspective and highlights the impact of RAC1-dependent actin cytoskeleton remodeling on resistance to midostaurin in AML. RAC1 hyperactivation leads resistance via hyperphosphorylation of the positive regulator of actin polymerization N-WASP and antiapoptotic BCL-2. RAC1/N-WASP, through ARP2/3 complex activation, increases the number of actin filaments, cell stiffness and adhesion forces to mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) being identified as a biomarker of resistance. Midostaurin resistance can be overcome by a combination of midostaruin, the BCL-2 inhibitor venetoclax and the RAC1 inhibitor Eht1864 in midostaurin-resistant AML cell lines and primary samples, providing the first evidence of a potential new treatment approach to eradicate FLT3-ITD + AML.

Garitano-Trojaola et al. used a combination of human acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cell lines and primary samples to show that RAC1-dependent actin cytoskeleton remodeling through BCL2 family plays a key role in resistance to the FLT3 inhibitor, Midostaurin in AML. They showed that by targeting RAC1 and BCL2, Midostaurin resistance was diminished, which potentially paves the way for an innovate treatment approach for FLT3 mutant AML.

Spatiotemporal Control of Supramolecular Polymerization and Gelation of Metal-Organic Polyhedra

In coordination-based supramolecular materials such as metallogels, simultaneous temporal and spatial control of their assembly remains challenging. Here, we demonstrate that the combination of light with acids as stimuli allows for the spatiotemporal control over the architectures, mechanical properties, and shape of porous soft materials based on metal-organic polyhedra (MOPs). First, we show that the formation of a colloidal gel network from a preformed kinetically trapped MOP solution can be triggered upon addition of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and that acid concentration determines the reaction kinetics. As determined by time-resolved dynamic light scattering, UV-vis absorption, and ¹H NMR spectroscopies and rheology measurements, the consequences of the increase in acid concentration are (i) an increase in the cross-linking between MOPs; (ii) a growth in the size of the colloidal particles forming the gel network; (iii) an increase in the density of the colloidal network; and (iv) a decrease in the ductility and stiffness of the resulting gel. We then demonstrate that irradiation of a dispersed photoacid generator, pyranine, allows the spatiotemporal control of the gel formation by locally triggering the self-assembly process. Using this methodology, we show that the gel can be patterned into a desired shape. Such precise positioning of the assembled structures, combined with the stable and permanent porosity of MOPs, could allow their integration into devices for applications such as sensing, separation, catalysis, or drug release.

Fueling the cytoskeleton - links between cell metabolism and actin remodeling

Attention has long focused on the actin cytoskeleton as a unit capable of organizing into ensembles that control cell shape, polarity, migration and the establishment of intercellular contacts that support tissue architecture. However, these investigations do not consider observations made over 40 years ago that the actin cytoskeleton directly binds metabolic enzymes, or emerging evidence suggesting that the rearrangement and assembly of the actin cytoskeleton is a major energetic drain. This Review examines recent studies probing how cells adjust their metabolism to provide the energy necessary for cytoskeletal remodeling that occurs during cell migration, epithelial to mesenchymal transitions, and the cellular response to external forces. These studies have revealed that mechanotransduction, cell migration, and epithelial to mesenchymal transitions are accompanied by alterations in glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation. These metabolic changes provide energy to support the actin cytoskeletal rearrangements necessary to allow cells to assemble the branched actin networks required for cell movement and epithelial to mesenchymal transitions and the large actin bundles necessary for cells to withstand forces. In this Review, we discuss the emerging evidence suggesting that the regulation of these events is highly complex with metabolism affecting the actin cytoskeleton and vice versa.

Primary Cilia, Ciliogenesis and the Actin Cytoskeleton: A Little Less Resorption, A Little More Actin Please

Primary cilia are microtubule-based organelles that extend from the apical surface of most mammalian cells, forming when the basal body (derived from the mother centriole) docks at the apical cell membrane. They act as universal cellular "antennae" in vertebrates that receive and integrate mechanical and chemical signals from the extracellular environment, serving diverse roles in chemo-, mechano- and photo-sensation that control developmental signaling, cell polarity and cell proliferation. Mutations in ciliary genes cause a major group of inherited developmental disorders called ciliopathies. There are very few preventative treatments or new therapeutic interventions that modify disease progression or the long-term outlook of patients with these conditions. Recent work has identified at least four distinct but interrelated cellular processes that regulate cilia formation and maintenance, comprising the cell cycle, cellular proteostasis, signaling pathways and structural influences of the actin cytoskeleton. The actin cytoskeleton is composed of microfilaments that are formed from filamentous (F) polymers of globular G-actin subunits. Actin filaments are organized into bundles and networks, and are attached to the cell membrane, by diverse cross-linking proteins. During cell migration, actin filament bundles form either radially at the leading edge or as axial stress fibers. Early studies demonstrated that loss-of-function mutations in ciliopathy genes increased stress fiber formation and impaired ciliogenesis whereas pharmacological inhibition of actin polymerization promoted ciliogenesis. These studies suggest that polymerization of the actin cytoskeleton, F-actin branching and the formation of stress fibers all inhibit primary cilium formation, whereas depolymerization or depletion of actin enhance ciliogenesis. Here, we review the mechanistic basis for these effects on ciliogenesis, which comprise several cellular processes acting in concert at different timescales. Actin polymerization is both a physical barrier to both cilia-targeted vesicle transport and to the membrane remodeling required for ciliogenesis. In contrast, actin may cause cilia loss by localizing disassembly factors at the ciliary base, and F-actin branching may itself activate the YAP/TAZ pathway to promote cilia disassembly. The fundamental role of actin polymerization in the control of ciliogenesis may present potential new targets for disease-modifying therapeutic approaches in treating ciliopathies.

Rapid local compression in active gels is caused by nonlinear network response

The actin cytoskeleton in living cells generates forces in conjunction with myosin motor proteins to directly and indirectly drive essential cellular processes. The semiflexible filaments of the cytoskeleton can respond nonlinearly to the collective action of motors. We here investigate mechanics and force generation in a model actin cytoskeleton, reconstituted in vitro, by observing the response and fluctuations of embedded micron-scale probe particles. Myosin mini-filaments can be modeled as force dipoles and give rise to deformations in the surrounding network of cross-linked actin. Anomalously correlated probe fluctuations indicate the presence of rapid local compression or draining of the network that emerges in addition to the ordinary linear shear elastic (incompressible) response to force dipoles. The anomalous propagation of compression can be attributed to the nonlinear response of actin filaments to the microscopic forces, and is quantitatively consistent with motor-generated large-scale stiffening of the gels.

Extracellular ATP Regulates the Vesicular Pore Opening in Chromaffin Cells and Increases the Fraction Released During Individual Exocytosis Events

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is the main energy source for cellular metabolism. Besides that, ATP is a neurotransmitter and a cotransmitter that acts on purinergic receptors present either pre- or postsynaptically. Almost all types of secretory vesicles from any neuron or animal species contain high concentrations of ATP, being an essential factor in the accumulation of neurotransmitters. In this work, we studied the effects of ATP on quantum catecholamine release and vesicular storage in chromaffin cells. We combined three electrochemical methods: conventional amperometry with intracellular vesicle impact electrochemical cytometry and vesicle impact electrochemical cytometry. We found that extracellular ATP increased the released quantal fraction of catecholamine but not its vesicular content. Studying the dynamics of exocytosis events in ATP treated cells showed that ATP affects the release fusion pore. To elucidate the mechanisms of the observed ATP effects, cells and vesicles were pharmacologically treated with suramin (a purinergic blocker) and ARL-67156 (an antagonist of ecto-ATPases). The data indicate that the catecholamine content of vesicles increased compared to control after these drugs. Our data suggest that ATP acting on purinergic receptors increases the quantum releasable size through an increased fusion pore opening and that ARL-67156 and/or suramin protect the vesicle from neurotransmitter leakage by functioning as competitive inhibitors to ATP.

Mechanical differences between ATP and ADP actin states: A molecular dynamics study

This paper aims to give a comprehensive atomistic modeling of the nanomechanical behavior of actin monomer. Actin is a ubiquitous and essential component of cytoskeleton which forms many different cellular structures. Despite for several years great effort has been devoted to the investigation of mechanical properties of the actin filament, studies on the nanomechanical behavior of actin monomer are still lacking. These scales are, however, important for a complete understanding of the role of actin as an important component in the cytoskeleton structure. Based on the accuracy of atomistic modeling methods such as molecular dynamics simulations, steered molecular dynamics method is performed to assess tension of monomeric G-actin molecule under different types of mechanical loading including axial and lateral. As a result, stress-strain curves are obtained in aqueous solution, with either ATP or ADP bound in the nucleotide binding pocket. The obtained results yield evaluation of the tensile stiffness of a single actin monomer in lateral and normal direction. In order to compare the behavior of ATP and ADP G-actins, the number of hydrogen bonds and nonbonded interactions between the nucleotide and the protein are analyzed. Moreover, The effect of virtual spring of steered molecular dynamics on the mechanical behavior of actin monomer is investigated. The results reveal increasing the virtual spring constant leads to convergence of the stiffness. Moreover, in this paper, a generalized model is proposed to extend the obtained results for the monomeric G-actin scale to the actin filament. Our modeling estimated a persistence length of actin filament 15.41 µm, close to experimental measurements. Moreover, In this paper, the breaking force actin-actin bond is evaluated using steered molecular dynamics simulation. By applying a tensile force, actin-actin bond ruptured at 4197.5 pN.

Nanomechanics of actin filament: A molecular dynamics simulation

Actin is known as the most abundant essentially protein in eukaryotic cells. Actin plays a crucial role in many cellular processes involving mechanical forces such as cell motility, adhesion, muscle contraction, and intracellular transport. However, little is known about the mechanical properties of this protein when subjected to mechanical forces in cellular processes. In this article, a series of large-scale molecular dynamics simulations are carried out to elucidate nanomechanical behavior such as elastic and viscoelastic properties of a single actin filament. Here, we used two individual methods namely, all-atoms and coarse-grained molecular dynamics, to evaluate elastic properties of a single actin filament. In the other word, based on Brownian motions of the filament and using the principle of the equipartition theorem, in aqueous solution, tensile stiffness, torsional rigidity, and bending rigidity of the single actin filament are studied. The results revealed that increasing the sampling window time leads to convergence of obtained mechanical properties to the experimental values. Moreover, in order to investigate viscoelastic properties of a single actin filament, constant force steered molecular dynamics method is used to apply different external tensile loads and perform five individual creep tests on the molecule. The strain-time response of the filament for each creep test is obtained. Based on the Kelvin-Voigt model, the results reveal that a single actin filament shows a nonlinear viscoelastic behavior, with a Young's modulus of 2.85 GPa, a viscosity of 4.06 GPa.ns, and a relaxation time in the range of 1.42 ns which were measured here for the first time at the single filament level. The findings of this article suggest that molecular dynamics simulations could also be a useful tool for investigating the mechanical behavior of bio-nanomaterials.

Astragaloside IV ameliorates 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis implicating regulation of energy metabolism

Dysfunction of energy metabolism is involved in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This study was designed to investigate the potential of astragaloside IV (ASIV), an active ingredient of Radix Astragalus, to ameliorate colonic mucosal injury, with focusing on the implication of energy restoration in the underlying mechanism. Experimental colitis model was established in rats by injecting 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) through anus. After 24 hours, ASIV was administrated once daily by gavage for 6 days. On day 1 and day 7, colon tissue was collected for macroscopic and histological examination, ELISA, Western blot and immunohistochemical analysis. TNBS impaired colonic mucosa with an injured epithelial architecture, increased inflammatory cell infiltration, and decreased colonic blood flow. Lgr5 positive cell number in crypt and β-catenin nuclear translocation were down-regulated by TNBS treatment. TNBS induced epithelial F-actin disruption and junctional protein degradation. Furthermore, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content and ATP synthase subunit β expression in the colon tissue were significantly decreased after TNBS stimulation. All of the aforementioned alterations were relieved by ASIV post-treatment. The present study revealed that ASIV promoted mucosal healing process in TNBS-induced colitis, which was most likely attributed to regulating energy metabolism.

Mitochondria Protection after Acute Ischemia Prevents Prolonged Upregulation of IL-1β and IL-18 and Arrests CKD

The innate immune system has been implicated in both AKI and CKD. Damaged mitochondria release danger molecules, such as reactive oxygen species, DNA, and cardiolipin, which can cause NLRP3 inflammasome activation and upregulation of IL-18 and IL-1β It is not known if mitochondrial damage persists long after ischemia to sustain chronic inflammasome activation. We conducted a 9-month study in Sprague-Dawley rats after 45 minutes of bilateral renal ischemia. We detected glomerular and peritubular capillary rarefaction, macrophage infiltration, and fibrosis at 1 month. Transmission electron microscopy revealed mitochondrial degeneration, mitophagy, and deformed foot processes in podocytes. These changes progressed over the study period, with a persistent increase in renal cortical expression of IL-18, IL-1β, and TGF-β, despite a gradual decline in TNF-α expression and macrophage infiltration. Treatment with a mitoprotective agent (SS-31; elamipretide) for 6 weeks, starting 1 month after ischemia, preserved mitochondrial integrity, ameliorated expression levels of all inflammatory markers, restored glomerular capillaries and podocyte structure, and arrested glomerulosclerosis and interstitial fibrosis. Further, helium ion microscopy vividly demonstrated the restoration of podocyte structure by SS-31. The protection by SS-31 was sustained for ≥6 months after treatment ended, with normalization of IL-18 and IL-1β expression. These results support a role for mitochondrial damage in inflammasome activation and CKD and suggest mitochondrial protection as a novel therapeutic approach that can arrest the progression of CKD. Notably, SS-31 is effective when given long after AKI and provides persistent protection after termination of drug treatment.

Collective dynamics of active filament complexes

Networks of biofilaments are essential for the formation of cellular structures that support various biological functions. For the most part, previous studies have investigated the collective dynamics of rodlike biofilaments; however, the shapes of the actual subcellular components are often more elaborate. In this study, we considered an active object composed of two active filaments, which represents the progression from rodlike biofilaments to complex-shaped biofilaments. Specifically, we numerically assessed the collective behaviors of these active objects in two dimensions and observed several types of dynamics, depending on the density and the angle of the two filaments as shape parameters of the object. Among the observed collective dynamics, a moving density band that we named a "moving smectic" is introduced here for the first time. By analyzing the trajectories of individual objects and the interactions among them, this study demonstrated how interactions among active biofilaments with complex shapes could produce collective dynamics in a nontrivial manner.

Actin is required for cellular death

Actin is one of the most abundant cytoskeletal proteins, which takes part in many cellular processes. This review provides information on the history, forms and localization of actin and its role, in particular in cellular death processes. We discuss the relationships between reorganization of actin filaments and apoptosis, mitotic catastrophe and differentiation. Finally, we discuss the translocation and accumulation of actin in the nuclear area. Moreover, owing to the difficulties of F-actin localization by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), the phalloidin-based method of its detection using streptavidin-coated quantum dots is presented in this review.

Podocyte energy metabolism and glomerular diseases

Mitochondria are crucial organelles that produce and deliver adenosine triphosphate (ATP), by which all cellular processes are driven. Although the mechanisms that control mitochondrial biogenesis, function and dynamics are complex process and vary among different cell types, recent studies provided many new discoveries in this field. Podocyte injury is a crucial step in the development of a large number of glomerular diseases. Glomerular podocytes are unique cells with complex foot processes that cover the outer layer of the glomerular basement membrane, and are the principle cells composing filtration barriers of glomerular capillaries. Little is known on the modalities and the regulation of podocyte's energetics as well as the type of energy substrate primarily used for their activity, recent studies revealed that dysfunction of energy transduction in podocytes may underlie the podocyte injury associated with numerous glomerular diseases. We herein review and discuss the importance of a fine regulation of energy metabolism in podocytes for maintaining their cellular structure and related kidney function. In the future, understanding these mechanisms will open up new areas of treatment for glomerular diseases.

A mechanochemical model of actin filaments

In eukaryotic cells, actin filaments are involved in important processes such as motility, division, cell shape regulation, contractility, and mechanosensation. Actin filaments are polymerized chains of monomers, which themselves undergo a range of chemical events such as ATP hydrolysis, polymerization, and depolymerization. When forces are applied to F-actin, in addition to filament mechanical deformations, the applied force must also influence chemical events in the filament. We develop an intermediate-scale model of actin filaments that combines actin chemistry with filament-level deformations. The model is able to compute mechanical responses of F-actin during bending and stretching. The model also describes the interplay between ATP hydrolysis and filament deformations, including possible force-induced chemical state changes of actin monomers in the filament. The model can also be used to model the action of several actin-associated proteins, and for large-scale simulation of F-actin networks. All together, our model shows that mechanics and chemistry must be considered together to understand cytoskeletal dynamics in living cells.

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

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

mDia1 and formins: screw cap of the actin filament

Formin homology proteins (formins) are actin nucleation factors which remain bound to the growing barbed end and processively elongate actin filament (F-actin). Recently, we have demonstrated that a mammalian formin mDia1 rotates along the long-pitch helix of F-actin during processive elongation (helical rotation) by single-molecule fluorescence polarization. We have also shown processive depolymerization of mDia1-bound F-actin during which helical rotation was visualized. In the cell where F-actins are highly cross-linked, formins should rotate during filament elongation. Therefore, when formins are tightly anchored to cellular structures, formins may not elongate F-actin. Adversely, helical rotation of formins might affect the twist of F-actin. Formins could thus control actin elongation and regulate stability of cellular actin filaments through helical rotation. On the other hand, ADP-actin elongation at the mDia1-bound barbed end turned out to become decelerated by profilin, in marked contrast to its remarkably positive effect on mDia1-mediated ATP-actin elongation. This deceleration is caused by enhancement of the off-rate of ADP-actin. While mDia1 and profilin enhance the ADP-actin off-rate, they do not apparently increase the ADP-actin on-rate at the barbed end. These results imply that G-actin-bound ATP and its hydrolysis may be part of the acceleration mechanism of formin-mediated actin elongation.

The effect of toxins on inorganic phosphate release during actin polymerization

During the polymerization of actin, hydrolysis of bound ATP occurs in two consecutive steps: chemical cleavage of the high-energy nucleotide and slow release of the γ-phosphate. In this study the effect of phalloidin and jasplakinolide on the kinetics of P(i) release was monitored during the formation of actin filaments. An enzyme-linked assay based spectrophotometric technique was used to follow the liberation of inorganic phosphate. It was verified that jasplakinolide reduced the P(i) release in the same way as phalloidin. It was not possible to demonstrate long-range allosteric effects of the toxins by release of P(i) from F-actin. The products of ATP hydrolysis were released by denaturation of the actin filaments. HPLC analysis of the samples revealed that the ATP in the toxin-bound region was completely hydrolysed into ADP and P(i). The effect of both toxins can be sufficiently explained by local and mechanical blockade of P(i) dissociation.

Conformational dynamics of actin: effectors and implications for biological function

Actin is a protein abundant in many cell types. Decades of investigations have provided evidence that it has many functions in living cells. The diverse morphology and dynamics of actin structures adapted to versatile cellular functions is established by a large repertoire of actin-binding proteins. The proper interactions with these proteins assume effective molecular adaptations from actin, in which its conformational transitions play essential role. This review attempts to summarise our current knowledge regarding the coupling between the conformational states of actin and its biological function.

New aspects of the spontaneous polymerization of actin in the presence of salts

The mechanism of salt-induced actin polymerization involves the energetically unfavorable nucleation step, followed by filament elongation by the addition of monomers. The use of a bifunctional cross-linker, N,N'-(1,4-phenylene)dimaleimide, revealed rapid formation of the so-called lower dimers (LD) in which actin monomers are arranged in an antiparallel fashion. The filament elongation phase is characterized by a gradual LD decay and an increase in the yield of "upper dimers" (UD) characteristic of F-actin. Here we have used 90 degrees light scattering, electron microscopy, and N, N'-(1,4-phenylene)dimaleimide cross-linking to reinvestigate relationships between changes in filament morphology, LD decay, and increase in the yield of UD during filament growth in a wide range of conditions influencing the rate of the nucleation reaction. The results show irregularity and instability of filaments at early stages of polymerization under all conditions used, and suggest that an earlier documented coassembling of LD with monomeric actin contributes to the initial disordering of the filaments rather than to the nucleation of polymerization. The effects of the type of G-actin-bound divalent cation (Ca2+/Mg2+), nucleotide (ATP/ADP), and polymerizing salt on the relation between changes in filament morphology and progress in G-actin-to-F-actin transformation show that ligand-dependent alterations in G-actin conformation determine not only the nucleation rate but also the kinetics of ordering of the filament structure in the elongation phase. The time courses of changes in the yield of UD suggest that filament maturation involves cooperative propagation of "proper" interprotomer contacts. Acceleration of this process by the initially bound MgATP supports the view that the filament-destabilizing conformational changes triggered by ATP hydrolysis and Pi liberation during polymerization are constrained by the intermolecular contacts established between MgATP monomers prior to ATP hydrolysis. An important role of contacts involving the DNase-I-binding loop and the C-terminus of actin is proposed.

EFFECT OF PHALLOIDIN ON FILAMENTS POLYMERIZED FROM HEART MUSCLE ADP-ACTIN MONOMERS

The effect of phalloidin on filaments polymerized from ADP-actin monomers of the heart muscle was investigated with differential scanning calorimetry. Heart muscle contains alpha-skeletal and alpha-cardiac actin isoforms. In the absence of phalloidin the melting temperature was 55 degrees C for the alpha-cardiac actin isoform and 58 degrees C for the alpha-skeletal one when the filaments were generated from ADP-actin monomers. After the binding of phalloidin the melting temperature was isoform independent (85.5 degrees C). We concluded that phalloidin stabilized the actin filaments of alpha-skeletal and alpha-cardiac actin isoforms to the same extent when they were polymerized from ADP-actin monomers.

Noncooperative stabilization effect of phalloidin on ADP.BeFx- and ADP.AlF4-actin filaments

Actin plays important roles in eukaryotic cell motility. During actin polymerization, the actin-bound ATP is hydrolyzed to ADP and P i. We carried out differential scanning calorimetry experiments to characterize the cooperativity of the stabilizing effect of phalloidin on actin filaments in their ADP.P i state. The ADP.P i state was mimicked by using ADP.BeF x or ADP.AlF 4. The results showed that the binding of the nucleotide analogues or phalloidin stabilized the actin filaments to a similar extent when added separately. Phalloidin binding to ADP.BeF x- or ADP.AlF 4-actin filaments further stabilized them, indicating that the mechanism by which phalloidin and the nucleotide analogues affect the filament structure was different. The results also showed that the stabilization effect of phalloidin binding to ADP.BeF x or ADP.AlF 4-bound actin filaments was not cooperative. Since the effect of phalloidin binding was cooperative in the absence of these nucleotide analogues, these results suggest that the binding of ADP.BeF x or ADP.AlF 4 to the actin modified the protomer-protomer interactions along the actin filaments.

Nucleotide dependent differences between the alpha-skeletal and alpha-cardiac actin isoforms

The thermodynamic properties of the actin filaments prepared from cardiomyocytes were investigated with differential scanning calorimetry. This method could distinguish between the alpha-cardiac and alpha-skeletal components of the actin filaments polymerised from ADP-actin monomers by their different melting temperatures (T(m)). Similar separation was not possible with filaments polymerised from ATP-actin monomers. Further analyses revealed that the activation energy (E(act)) was greater for filaments of alpha-skeletal actin than for alpha-cardiac actin monomers when the filaments were polymerised from ADP-actin monomers. These results showed that the alpha-cardiac actin filaments were thermodynamically less stable than the filaments of alpha-skeletal actin and their difference was nucleotide dependent. Based on these results and considering previous observations it was concluded that the existence of two actin isoforms and their nucleotide dependent conformational differences are part of the tuning regulatory mechanism by which the cardiac muscle cells can maintain their biological function under pathological conditions.

The Cytoskeletal Connection to Ion Channels as a Potential Mechanosensory Mechanism: Lessons from Polycystin-2 (TRPP2)

Mechanosensitivity of ion channels, or the ability to transfer mechanical forces into a gating mechanism of channel regulation, is split into two main working (not mutually exclusive) hypotheses. One is that elastic and/or structural changes in membrane properties act as a transducing mechanism of channel regulation. The other hypothesis involves tertiary elements, such as the cytoskeleton which, itself by dynamic interactions with the ion channel, may convey conformational changes, including those ascribed to mechanical forces. This hypothesis is supported by numerous instances of regulatory changes in channel behavior by alterations in cytoskeletal structures/interactions. However, only recently, the molecular nature of these interactions has slowly emerged. Recently, a surge of evidence has emerged to indicate that transient receptor potential (TRP) channels are key elements in the transduction of a variety of environmental signals. This chapter describes the molecular linkage and regulatory elements of polycystin-2 (PC2), a TRP-type (TRPP2) nonselective cation channel whose mutations cause autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). The chapter focuses on the involvement of cytoskeletal structures in the regulation of PC2 and discusses how these connections are the transducing mechanism of environmental signals to its channel function.

Extent of Modifications in Human Proteome Samples and Their Effect on Dynamic Range of Analysis in Shotgun Proteomics

The complexity of the human proteome, already enormous at the organism level, increases further in the course of the proteome analysis due to in vitro sample evolution. Most of in vitro alterations can also occur in vivo as post-translational modifications. These two types of modifications can only be distinguished a posteriori but not in the process of analysis, thus rendering necessary the analysis of every molecule in the sample. With the new software tool ModifiComb applied to MS/MS data, the extent of modifications was measured in tryptic mixtures representing the full proteome of human cells. The estimated level of 8-12 modified peptides per each unmodified tryptic peptide present at >or=1% level is approaching one modification per amino acid on average. This is a higher modification rate than was previously thought, posing an additional challenge to analytical techniques. The solution to the problem is seen in improving sample preparation routines, introducing dynamic range-adjusted thresholds for database searches, using more specific MS/MS analysis using high mass accuracy and complementary fragmentation techniques, and revealing peptide families with identification of additional proteins only by unfamiliar peptides. Extensive protein separation prior to analysis reduces the requirements on speed and dynamic range of a tandem mass spectrometer and can be a viable alternative to the shotgun approach.

Mechanical properties of Xenopus egg cytoplasmic extracts

Cytoplasmic extracts prepared from Xenopus laevis eggs are used for the reconstitution of a wide range of processes in cell biology, and offer a unique environment in which to investigate the role of cytoplasmic mechanics without the complication of preorganized cellular structures. As a step toward understanding the mechanical properties of this system, we have characterized the rheology of crude interphase extracts. At macroscopic length scales, the extract forms a soft viscoelastic solid. Using a conventional mechanical rheometer, we measure the elastic modulus to be in the range of 2-10 Pa, and loss modulus in the range of 0.5-5 Pa. Using pharmacological and immunological disruption methods, we establish that actin filaments and microtubules cooperate to give mechanical strength, whereas the intermediate filament cytokeratin does not contribute to viscoelasticity. At microscopic length scales smaller than the average network mesh size, the response is predominantly viscous. We use multiple particle tracking methods to measure the thermal fluctuations of 1 microm embedded tracer particles, and measure the viscosity to be approximately 20 mPa-s. We explore the impact of rheology on actin-dependent cytoplasmic contraction, and find that although microtubules modulate contractile forces in vitro, their interactions are not purely mechanical.

Crawling toward a unified model of cell mobility: spatial and temporal regulation of actin dynamics

Crawling cells of various morphologies displace themselves in their biological environments by a similar overall mechanism of protrusion through actin assembly at the front coordinated with retraction at the rear. Different cell types organize very distinct protruding structures, yet they do so through conserved biochemical mechanisms to regulate actin polymerization dynamics and vary the mechanical properties of these structures. The moving cell must spatially and temporally regulate the biochemical interactions of its protein components to exert control over higher-order dynamic structures created by these proteins and global cellular responses four or more orders of magnitude larger in scale and longer in time than the individual protein-protein interactions that comprise them. To fulfill its biological role, a cell globally responds with high sensitivity to a local perturbation or signal and coordinates its many intracellular actin-based functional structures with the physical environment it experiences to produce directed movement. This review attempts to codify some unifying principles for cell motility that span organizational scales from single protein polymer filaments to whole crawling cells.

Analysis of nucleotide myosin complexes in skeletal muscle fibres by DSC and EPR

The internal dynamics and thermal unfolding of fibre bundles prepared from rabbit psoas muscle has been studied in the presence of nucleotides by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. Using ADP, adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP), AMP.PNP and inorganic phosphate analogue orthovanadate (V(i)), AlF(4)(-) and BeF(3)(-), three intermediate states of the ATP hydrolysis cycle were simulated in glycerinated muscle fibres. In the main transition of the DSC pattern, three overlapping endotherms were detected in rigor, four in strongly as well as weakly binding state of myosin to actin. Deconvolution procedure showed that the transition temperature of 67.5 degrees C was the same for rigor and strong binding state of myosin. In contrast, nucleotide binding induced shift of the melting temperatures of 52 degrees C and 67.5 degrees C, appeared a new fourth peak at 74 and 77 degrees C and produced changes in the calorimetric enthalpies. The changes of the parameters of the peak functions suggest global rearrangements of the internal structure in myosin heads in the intermediate states. In the presence of ADP or ATP plus phosphate analogue orthovanadate or beryllium fluoride, aluminium fluoride, the conventional EPR spectra of spin-labeled muscle fibres showed large changes in the ordering of the probe molecules, and a new distribution of spin labels appeared. ATP plus orthovanadate induced the orientation disorder of myosin heads; the random population of spin labels gave evidence of large local conformational and motional changes in the internal structure of myosin heads. Saturation transfer EPR measurements reported increased rotational mobility of spin labels in the presence of ATP plus phosphate analogues corresponding to weakly binding state of myosin to actin.

The role of MeH73 in actin polymerization and ATP hydrolysis

In actin from many species H73 is methylated, but the function of this rare post-translational modification is unknown. Although not within bonding distance, it is located close to the gamma-phosphate of the actin-bound ATP. In most crystal structures of actin, the delta1-nitrogen of the methylated H73 forms a hydrogen bond with the carbonyl of G158. This hydrogen bond spans the gap separating subdomains 2 and 4, thereby contributing to the forces that close the interdomain cleft around the ATP polyphosphate tail. A second hydrogen bond stabilizing interdomain closure exists between R183 and Y69. In the closed-to-open transition in beta-actin, both of these hydrogen bonds are broken as the phosphate tail is exposed to solvent. Here we describe the isolation and characterization of a mutant beta-actin (H73A) expressed in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The properties of the mutant are compared to those of wild-type beta-actin, also expressed in yeast. Yeast does not have the methyl transferase necessary to methylate recombinant beta-actin. Thus, the polymerization properties of yeast-expressed wild-type beta-actin can be compared with normally methylated beta-actin isolated from calf thymus. Since earlier studies of the actin ATPase almost invariably employed rabbit skeletal alpha-actin, this isoform was included in these comparative studies on the polymerization, ATP hydrolysis, and phosphate release of actin. It was found that H73A-actin exchanged ATP at an increased rate, and was less stable than yeast-expressed wild-type actin, indicating that the mutation affects the spatial relationship between the two domains of actin which embrace the nucleotide. At physiological concentrations of Mg(2+), the kinetics of ATP hydrolysis of the mutant actin were unaffected, but polymer formation was delayed. The comparison of methylated and unmethylated beta-actin revealed that in the absence of a methyl group on H73, ATP hydrolysis and phosphate release occurred prior to, and seemingly independently of, filament formation. The comparison of beta and alpha-actin revealed differences in the timing and relative rates of ATP hydrolysis and P(i)-release.

Clamped-filament elongation model for actin-based motors

Although actin-based motility drives cell crawling and intracellular locomotion of organelles and certain pathogens, the underlying mechanism of force generation remains a mystery. Recent experiments demonstrated that Listeria exhibit episodes of 5.4-nm stepwise motion corresponding to the periodicity of the actin filament subunits, and extremely small positional fluctuations during the intermittent pauses [S. C. Kuo and J. L. McGrath. 2000. Nature. 407:1026-1029]. These findings suggest that motile bacteria remain firmly bound to actin filament ends as they elongate, a behavior that appears to rule out previous models for actin-based motility. We propose and analyze a new mechanochemical model (called the "Lock, Load & Fire" mechanism) for force generation by means of affinity-modulated, clamped-filament elongation. During the locking step, the filament's terminal ATP-containing subunit binds tightly to a clamp situated on the surface of a motile object; in the loading step, actin.ATP monomer(s) bind to the filament end, an event that triggers the firing step, wherein ATP hydrolysis on the clamped subunit attenuates the filament's affinity for the clamp. This last step initiates translocation of the new ATP-containing terminus to the clamp, whereupon another cycle begins anew. This model explains how surface-tethered filaments can grow while exerting flexural or tensile force on the motile surface. Moreover, stochastic simulations of the model reproduce the signature motions of Listeria. This elongation motor, which we term actoclampin, exploits actin's intrinsic ATPase activity to provide a simple, high-fidelity enzymatic reaction cycle for force production that does not require elongating filaments to dissociate from the motile surface. This mechanism may operate whenever actin polymerization is called upon to generate the forces that drive cell crawling or intracellular organelle motility.

Nucleotide binding induces global and local structural changes of myosin head in muscle fibres

Thermal stability and internal dynamics of myosin heads in fiber bundles from rabbit psoas muscle has been studied by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Using ADP, ATP and orthovanadate (V(i)), three intermediate states of the ATP hydrolysis cycle were simulated in glycerinated muscle fibers. DSC transitions contained three overlapping endotherms in each state. Deconvolution showed that the transition temperature of 58.4 degrees C was almost independent of the intermediate state of myosin, while nucleotide binding shifted the melting temperatures of 54.0 and 62.3 degrees C, and changed the enthalpies. These changes suggest global rearrangements of the internal structure in myosin head. In the presence of ADP and ADP plus V(i), the conventional EPR spectra showed changes in the ordering of the probe molecules, suggesting local conformational and motional changes in the internal structure of myosin heads. Saturation transfer EPR measurements reported increased rotational mobility of spin labels in the presence of ATP plus orthovanadate corresponding to a weakly binding state of myosin to actin.

ATPase activity and conformational changes in the regulation of actin

The eukaryotic microfilament system is regulated in part through the nucleotide- and cation-dependent conformation of the actin molecule. In this review, recent literature on the crystal and solution structures of actin and other actin-superfamily proteins is summarized. Furthermore, the structure of the nucleotide binding cleft is discussed in terms of the mechanism of ATP hydrolysis and P(i) release. Two distinct domain movements are suggested to participate in the regulation of actin. (1) High-affinity binding of Mg(2+) to actin induces a rearrangement of side chains in the nucleotide binding site leading to an increased ATPase activity and polymerizability, as well as a rotation of subdomain 2 which is mediated by the hydroxyl of serine-14. (2) Hydrolysis of ATP and subsequent release of inorganic phosphate lead to a butterfly-like opening of the actin molecule brought about by a shearing in the interdomain helix 135-150. These domain rearrangements modulate the interaction of actin with a variety of different proteins, and conversely, protein binding to actin can restrict these conformational changes, with ultimate effects on the assembly state of the microfilament system.

Osteopontin

Osteopontin (OPN) is a highly phosphorylated sialoprotein that is a prominent component of the mineralized extracellular matrices of bones and teeth. OPN is characterized by the presence of a polyaspartic acid sequence and sites of Ser/Thr phosphorylation that mediate hydroxyapatite binding, and a highly conserved RGD motif that mediates cell attachment/signaling. Expression of OPN in a variety of tissues indicates a multiplicity of functions that involve one or more of these conserved motifs. While the lack of a clear phenotype in OPN "knockout" mice has not established a definitive role for OPN in any tissue, recent studies have provided some novel and intriguing insights into the versatility of this enigmatic protein in diverse biological events, including developmental processes, wound healing, immunological responses, tumorigenesis, bone resorption, and calcification. The ability of OPN to stimulate cell activity through multiple receptors linked to several interactive signaling pathways can account for much of the functional diversity. In this review, we discuss the structural features of OPN that relate to its function in the formation, remodeling, and maintenance of bones and teeth.

ATP-dependent membrane assembly of F-actin facilitates membrane fusion

We recently established an in vitro assay that monitors the fusion between latex-bead phagosomes and endocytic organelles in the presence of J774 macrophage cytosol (). Here, we show that different reagents affecting the actin cytoskeleton can either inhibit or stimulate this fusion process. Because the membranes of purified phagosomes can assemble F-actin de novo from pure actin with ATP (), we focused here on the ability of membranes to nucleate actin in the presence of J774 cytosolic extracts. For this, we used F-actin sedimentation, pyrene actin assays, and torsional rheometry, a biophysical approach that could provide kinetic information on actin polymerization and gel formation. We make two major conclusions. First, under our standard in vitro conditions (4 mg/ml cytosol and 1 mM ATP), the presence of membranes actively catalyzed the assembly of cytosolic F-actin, which assembled into highly viscoelastic gels. A model is discussed that links these results to how the actin may facilitate fusion. Second, cytosolic actin paradoxically polymerized more under ATP depletion than under high-ATP conditions, even in the absence of membranes; we discuss these data in the context of the well described, large increases in F-actin seen in many cells during ischemia.

Conformational and dynamic differences between actin filaments polymerized from ATP- or ADP-actin monomers

Conformational and dynamic properties of actin filaments polymerized from ATP- or ADP-actin monomers were compared by using fluorescence spectroscopic methods. The fluorescence intensity of IAEDANS attached to the Cys(374) residue of actin was smaller in filaments from ADP-actin than in filaments from ATP-actin monomers, which reflected a nucleotide-induced conformational difference in subdomain 1 of the monomer. Radial coordinate calculations revealed that this conformational difference did not modify the distance of Cys(374) from the longitudinal filament axis. Temperature-dependent fluorescence resonance energy transfer measurements between donor and acceptor molecules on Cys(374) of neighboring actin protomers revealed that the inter-monomer flexibility of filaments assembled from ADP-actin monomers were substantially greater than the one of filaments from ATP-actin monomers. Flexibility was reduced by phalloidin in both types of filaments.

Dynamic study of cell mechanical and structural responses to rapid changes of calcium level

Cell shape control is complex since it may involve multiple cytoskeletal components and metabolic pathways. Here we present a kinetic study of the mechanical and structural responses of cells from the monocytic THP-1 line to a rapid increase of cytosolic calcium level. Cells were exposed to ionomycin in a medium of varying calcium concentration and they were probed at regular intervals for (1) cortical rigidity as determined with micropipette aspiration, and (2) content and distribution of polymerized actin, myosin or ABP-280, as determined with flow cytometry and/or confocal microscopy. An increase of free intracellular calcium level induced: (1) a biphasic deformability change with marked stiffening within a second, and significant softening a minute later; (2) a biphasic change of actin polymerization with initial decrease (within less than a second) and rapid recovery (within a few seconds); (3) a topographical redistribution of microfilaments with an oscillatory behavior of the cortical fraction, while no substantial redistribution of myosin or ABP-280 was detected. It is suggested that a regulation of cell rigidity might be achieved without any structural change by suitable modulation of the lifetime of bridges formed between microfilaments by actin binding proteins.

Differential dynamic behavior of actin filaments containing tightly-bound Ca2+ or Mg2+ in the presence of myosin heads actively hydrolyzing ATP

We have investigated how Ca2+ or Mg2+ bound at the high-affinity cation binding site in F-actin modulates the dynamic response of these filaments to ATP hydrolysis by attached myosin head fragments (S1). Rotational motions of the filaments were monitored using steady-state phosphorescence emission anisotropy of the triplet probe erythrosin-5-iodoacetamide covalently attached to cysteine 374 of actin. The anisotropy of filaments containing only Ca2+ increased from 0.080 to 0.137 upon binding S1 in a rigor complex and decreased to 0.065 in the presence of ATP, indicating that S1 induced additional rotational motions in the filament during ATP hydrolysis. The comparable anisotropy values for Mg(2+)-containing filaments were 0.067, 0.137, and 0.065, indicating that S1 hydrolysis did not induce measurable rotational motions in these filaments. Phalloidin, a fungal toxin which stabilizes F-actin and increases its rigidity, increased the anisotropy of F-actin containing either Ca2+ or Mg2+ but not the anisotropy of the 1:1 S1-actin complexes of these filaments. Mg(2+)-containing filaments with phalloidin bound also displayed increased rotational motions during S1 ATP hydrolysis. A strong positive correlation between the phosphorescence anisotropy of F-actin under specific conditions and the extent of the rotational motions induced by S1 during ATP hydrolysis suggested that the long axis torsional rigidity of F-actin plays a crucial role in modulating the dynamic response of the filaments to ATP hydrolysis by S1. Cooperative responses of F-actin to dynamic perturbations induced by S1 during ATP hydrolysis may thus be physically mediated by the torsional rigidity of the filament.

The polyelectrolyte behavior of actin filaments: a 25Mg NMR study

Under physiological conditions, filamentous actin (F-actin) is a polyanionic protein filament. Key features of the behavior of F-actin are shared with other well-characterized polyelectrolytes, in particular, duplex DNA. For example, the bundle formation of F-actin by polyvalent cations, including divalent metal ions such as Mg2+, has been proposed to be a natural consequence of the polyelectrolyte nature of actin filaments [Tang and Janmey (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271, 8556-8563]. This recently proposed model also suggests that weak interactions between F-actin and Mg2+ ions reflect a nonspecific trapping of counterions in the electric field surrounding F-actin due to its polyelectrolyte nature. To test this hypothesis, we have performed 25Mg NMR measurements in F-actin solutions. Based on the NMR data, we estimate that the rotational correlation times of Mg2+ are independent of the overall rotational dynamics of the actin filaments. Moreover, competitive binding experiments demonstrate a facile displacement of F-actin-bound Mg2+ by Co(NH3)63+. At higher Co(NH3)63+ concentrations, a fraction of the magnesium ions are trapped as actin filaments aggregate. ATP also competes effectively with actin filaments for binding to Mg2+. These results support the hypothesis that magnesium ions bind loosely and nonspecifically to actin filaments, and thus show a behavior typical of counterions in polyelectrolyte solutions. The observed features mimic to some extent the well-documented behavior of counterions in DNA solutions.

The flexibility of actin filaments as revealed by fluorescence resonance energy transfer. The influence of divalent cations

The temperature profile of the fluorescence resonance energy transfer efficiency normalized by the fluorescence quantum yield of the donor in the presence of acceptor, f', was measured in a way allowing the independent investigation of (i) the strength of interaction between the adjacent protomers (intermonomer flexibility) and (ii) the flexibility of the protein matrix within actin protomers (intramonomer flexibility). In both cases the relative increase as a function of temperature in f' is larger in calcium-F-actin than in magnesium-F-actin in the range of 5-40 degrees C, which indicates that both the intramonomer and the intermonomer flexibility of the actin filaments are larger in calcium-F-actin than those in magnesium-F-actin. The intermonomer flexibility was proved to be larger than the intramonomer one in both the calcium-F-actin and the magnesium-F-actin. The distance between Gln41 and Cys374 residues was found to be cation-independent and did not change during polymerization at 21 degrees C. The steady-state fluorescence anisotropy data of fluorophores attached to the Gln41 or Cys374 residues suggest that the microenvironments around these regions are more rigid in the magnesium-loaded actin filament than in the calcium-loaded form.

Viscoelastic properties of f-actin, microtubules, f-actin/alpha-actinin, and f-actin/hexokinase determined in microliter volumes with a novel nondestructive method

A nondestructive method to determine viscoelastic properties of gels and fluids involves an oscillating glass fiber serving as a sensor for the viscosity of the surrounding fluid. Extremely small displacements (typically 1-100 nm) are caused by the glass rod oscillating at its resonance frequency. These displacements are analyzed using a phase-sensitive acoustic microscope. Alterations of the elastic modulus of a fluid or gel change the propagation speed of a longitudinal acoustic wave. The system allows to study quantities as small as 10 microliters with temporal resolution >1 Hz. For 2-100 microM f-actin gels a final viscosity of 1.3-9.4 mPa s and a final elastic modulus of 2.229-2.254 GPa (corresponding to 1493-1501 m/s sound velocity) have been determined. For 10- to 100-microM microtubule gels (native, without stabilization by taxol), a final viscosity of 1.5-124 mPa s and a final elastic modulus of 2.288-2. 547 GPa (approximately 1513-1596 m/s) have been determined. During polymerization the sound velocity in low-concentration actin solutions increased up to +1.3 m/s (approximately 1.69 kPa) and decreased up to -7 m/s (approximately 49 kPa) at high actin concentrations. On polymerization of tubulin a concentration-dependent decrease of sound velocity was observed, too (+48 to -12 m/s approximately 2.3-0.1 MPa, for 10- to 100-microM tubulin). This decrease was interpreted by a nematic phase transition of the actin filaments and microtubules with increasing concentration. 2 mM ATP (when compared to 0.2 mM ATP) increased polymerization rate, final viscosity and elastic modulus of f-actin (17 microM). The actin-binding glycolytic enzyme hexokinase also accelerated the polymerization rate and final viscosity but elastic modulus (2.26 GPa) was less than for f-actin polymerized in presence of 0.2 mM ATP (2.28 GPa).

Similarity between nuclear matrix proteins of various cells revealed by an improved isolation method

Comparative analysis of nuclear matrix proteins by two-dimensional electrophoresis may be greatly impaired by copurifying cytoskeletal proteins. The present data show that the bulk of adhering cytofilaments may mechanically be removed by shearing of nuclei pretreated with vanadyl ribonucleoside complexes. Potential mechanisms of action not based on ribonuclease inhibition are discussed. To individually preserve the integrity of nuclear structures, we developed protocols for the preparation of nuclear matrices from three categories of cells, namely leukocytes, cultured cells, and tissue cells. As exemplified with material from human lymphocytes, cultured amniotic cells, and liver tissue cells, the resulting patterns of nuclear matrix proteins appeared quite similar. Approximately 300 spots were shared among the cell types. Forty-nine of these were identified, 21 comprising heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins. Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins L and nuclear lamin B2 isoforms were identified by amino acid sequencing and mass spectrometry. However, individually expressed proteins, such as the proliferating cell nuclear antigen, also pertained following application of the protocols. Thus, enhanced resolution and comparability of proteins improve systematic analyses of nuclear matrix proteins from various cellular sources.