Identification of a myosin VII-talin complex

Adhesion of Dictyostelium Amoebae to Surfaces: A Brief History of Attachments

Dictyostelium amoebae adhere to extracellular material using similar mechanisms to metazoan cells. Notably, the cellular anchorage loci in Amoebozoa and Metazoa are both arranged in the form of discrete spots and incorporate a similar repertoire of intracellular proteins assembled into multicomponent complexes located on the inner side of the plasma membrane. Surprisingly, however, Dictyostelium lacks integrins, the canonical transmembrane heterodimeric receptors that dominantly mediate adhesion of cells to the extracellular matrix in multicellular animals. In this review article, we summarize the current knowledge about the cell-substratum adhesion in Dictyostelium, present an inventory of the involved proteins, and draw parallels with the situation in animal cells. The emerging picture indicates that, while retaining the basic molecular architecture common to their animal relatives, the adhesion complexes in free-living amoeboid cells have evolved to enable less specific interactions with diverse materials encountered in their natural habitat in the deciduous forest soil. Dissection of molecular mechanisms that underlay short lifetime of the cell-substratum attachments and high turnover rate of the adhesion complexes in Dictyostelium should provide insight into a similarly modified adhesion phenotype that accompanies the mesenchymal-amoeboid transition in tumor metastasis.

VASP-mediated actin dynamics activate and recruit a filopodia myosin

Filopodia are thin, actin-based structures that cells use to interact with their environments. Filopodia initiation requires a suite of conserved proteins but the mechanism remains poorly understood. The actin polymerase VASP and a MyTH-FERM (MF) myosin, DdMyo7 in amoeba, are essential for filopodia initiation. DdMyo7 is localized to dynamic regions of the actin-rich cortex. Analysis of VASP mutants and treatment of cells with anti-actin drugs shows that myosin recruitment and activation in Dictyostelium requires localized VASP-dependent actin polymerization. Targeting of DdMyo7 to the cortex alone is not sufficient for filopodia initiation; VASP activity is also required. The actin regulator locally produces a cortical actin network that activates myosin and together they shape the actin network to promote extension of parallel bundles of actin during filopodia formation. This work reveals how filopodia initiation requires close collaboration between an actin-binding protein, the state of the actin cytoskeleton and MF myosin activity.

Role of LrrkA in the Control of Phagocytosis and Cell Motility in Dictyostelium discoideum

LrrkA is a Dictyostelium discoideum kinase with leucine-rich repeats. LrrkA stimulates Kil2 and intra-phagosomal killing of ingested bacteria in response to folate. In this study, we show that genetic inactivation of lrrkA also causes a previously unnoticed phenotype: lrrkA KO cells exhibit enhanced phagocytosis and cell motility compared to parental cells. This phenotype is cell autonomous, is reversible upon re-expression of LrrkA, and is not due to an abnormal response to inhibitory quorum-sensing factors secreted by D. discoideum in its medium. In addition, folate increases motility in parental D. discoideum cells, but not in lrrkA KO cells, suggesting that LrrkA plays a pivotal role in the cellular response to folate. On the contrary, lrrkA KO cells regulate gene transcription in response to folate in a manner indistinguishable from parental cells. Overall, based on analysis of mutant phenotypes, we identify gene products that participate in the control of intracellular killing, cell motility, and gene transcription in response to folate. These observations reveal a mechanism by which D. discoideum encountering bacterially-secreted folate can migrate, engulf, and kill bacteria more efficiently.

Myosins, an Underestimated Player in the Infectious Cycle of Pathogenic Bacteria

Myosins play a key role in many cellular processes such as cell migration, adhesion, intracellular trafficking and internalization processes, making them ideal targets for bacteria. Through selected examples, such as enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), Neisseria, Salmonella, Shigella, Listeria or Chlamydia, this review aims to illustrate how bacteria target and hijack host cell myosins in order to adhere to the cell, to enter the cell by triggering their internalization, to evade from the cytosolic autonomous cell defense, to promote the biogenesis of intracellular replicative niche, to disseminate in tissues by cell-to-cell spreading, to exit out the host cell, and also to evade from macrophage phagocytosis. It highlights the diversity and sophistication of the strategy evolved by bacteria to manipulate one of their privileged targets, the actin cytoskeleton.

Formation of Aberrant Myotubes by Myoblasts Lacking Myosin VI Is Associated with Alterations in the Cytoskeleton Organization, Myoblast Adhesion and Fusion

We have previously postulated that unconventional myosin VI (MVI) could be involved in myoblast differentiation. Here, we addressed the mechanism(s) of its involvement using primary myoblast culture derived from the hindlimb muscles of Snell’s waltzer mice, the natural MVI knockouts (MVI-KO). We observed that MVI-KO myotubes were formed faster than control heterozygous myoblasts (MVI-WT), with a three-fold increase in the number of myosac-like myotubes with centrally positioned nuclei. There were also changes in the levels of the myogenic transcription factors Pax7, MyoD and myogenin. This was accompanied by changes in the actin cytoskeleton and adhesive structure organization. We observed significant decreases in the levels of proteins involved in focal contact formation, such as talin and focal adhesion kinase (FAK). Interestingly, the levels of proteins involved in intercellular communication, M-cadherin and drebrin, were also affected. Furthermore, time-dependent alterations in the levels of the key proteins for myoblast membrane fusion, myomaker and myomerger, without effect on their cellular localization, were observed. Our data indicate that in the absence of MVI, the mechanisms controlling cytoskeleton organization, as well as myoblast adhesion and fusion, are dysregulated, leading to the formation of aberrant myotubes.

Vacuolins and myosin VII are required for phagocytic uptake and phagosomal membrane recycling in Dictyostelium discoideum

Flotillins are lipid raft residents involved in membrane trafficking and recycling of plasma membrane proteins. Dictyostelium discoideum uses phagocytosis to kill, digest and feed on bacteria. It possesses three flotillin-like vacuolins that are strongly associated with membranes and that gradually accumulate on maturing phagosomes. Absence of vacuolins reduced adhesion and particle recognition resulting in a drastic reduction in the uptake of various types of particles. This was caused by a block in the recycling of plasma membrane components and the absence of their specific cortex-associated proteins. In addition, absence of vacuolins also impaired phagolysosome biogenesis, without significantly impacting killing and digestion of a range of bacteria. Strikingly, both absence and overexpression of vacuolins induced a strong downregulation of myosin VII (also known as MyoI) expression, as well as its binding partner talin A. Episomal expression of myosin VII fully rescued defects in uptake and adhesion but not in phagosome maturation. These results suggest a dual role for vacuolins: a novel mechanism involving membrane microdomains and myosin VII-talin A in clustering phagosomal receptors and adhesion molecules at the plasma membrane, and a role in phagolysosomal biogenesis.

Loss of FrmB results in increased size of developmental structures during the multicellular development of Dictyostelium cells

FERM domain-containing proteins are involved in diverse biological and pathological processes, including cell-substrate adhesion, cell-cell adhesion, multicellular development, and cancer metastasis. In this study, we determined the functions of FrmB, a FERM domain-containing protein, in the cell morphology, cell adhesion, and multicellular development of Dictyostelium cells. Our results show that FrmB appears to play an important role in regulating the size of developmental structures. frmB null cells showed prolonged aggregation during development, resulting in increased size of developmental structures, such as mounds and fruiting bodies, compared to those of wild-type cells, whereas FrmB overexpressing cells exhibited decreased size of developmental structures. These results suggest that FrmB may be necessary for limiting the sizes of developmental structures. Loss of FrmB also resulted in decreased cell-substrate adhesion and slightly increased cell area, suggesting that FrmB had important roles in the regulation of cell adhesion and cell morphology. These studies would contribute to our understanding of the intertwined and overlapped functions of FERM domain-containing proteins.

MyTH4-FERM myosins have an ancient and conserved role in filopod formation

The formation of filopodia in Metazoa and Amoebozoa requires the activity of myosin 10 (Myo10) in mammalian cells and of Dictyostelium unconventional myosin 7 (DdMyo7) in the social amoeba Dictyostelium However, the exact roles of these MyTH4-FERM myosins (myosin tail homology 4-band 4.1, ezrin, radixin, moesin; MF) in the initiation and elongation of filopodia are not well defined and may reflect conserved functions among phylogenetically diverse MF myosins. Phylogenetic analysis of MF myosin domains suggests that a single ancestral MF myosin existed with a structure similar to DdMyo7, which has two MF domains, and that subsequent duplications in the metazoan lineage produced its functional homolog Myo10. The essential functional features of the DdMyo7 myosin were identified using quantitative live-cell imaging to characterize the ability of various mutants to rescue filopod formation in myo7-null cells. The two MF domains were found to function redundantly in filopod formation with the C-terminal FERM domain regulating both the number of filopodia and their elongation velocity. DdMyo7 mutants consisting solely of the motor plus a single MyTH4 domain were found to be capable of rescuing the formation of filopodia, establishing the minimal elements necessary for the function of this myosin. Interestingly, a chimeric myosin with the Myo10 MF domain fused to the DdMyo7 motor also was capable of rescuing filopod formation in the myo7-null mutant, supporting fundamental functional conservation between these two distant myosins. Together, these findings reveal that MF myosins have an ancient and conserved role in filopod formation.

Involvement of unconventional myosin VI in myoblast function and myotube formation

The important role of unconventional myosin VI (MVI) in skeletal and cardiac muscle has been recently postulated (Karolczak et al. in Histochem Cell Biol 139:873-885, 2013). Here, we addressed for the first time a role for this unique myosin motor in myogenic cells as well as during their differentiation into myotubes. During myoblast differentiation, the isoform expression pattern of MVI and its subcellular localization underwent changes. In undifferentiated myoblasts, MVI-stained puncti were seen throughout the cytoplasm and were in close proximity to actin filaments, Golgi apparatus, vinculin-, and talin-rich focal adhesion as well as endoplasmic reticulum. Colocalization of MVI with endoplasmic reticulum was enhanced during myotube formation, and differentiation-dependent association was also seen in sarcoplasmic reticulum of neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NRCs). Moreover, we observed enrichment of MVI in myotube regions containing acetylcholine receptor-rich clusters, suggesting its involvement in the organization of the muscle postsynaptic machinery. Overexpression of the H246R MVI mutant (associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy) in myoblasts and NRCs caused the formation of abnormally large intracellular vesicles. MVI knockdown caused changes in myoblast morphology and inhibition of their migration. On the subcellular level, MVI-depleted myoblasts exhibited aberrations in the organization of actin cytoskeleton and adhesive structures as well as in integrity of Golgi apparatus and endoplasmic reticulum. Also, MVI depletion or overexpression of H246R mutant caused the formation of significantly wider or aberrant myotubes, respectively, indicative of involvement of MVI in myoblast differentiation. The presented results suggest an important role for MVI in myogenic cells and possibly in myoblast differentiation.

Interaction of Tetracapsuloides bryosalmonae, the causative agent of proliferative kidney disease, with host proteins in the kidney of Salmo trutta

Tetracapsuloides bryosalmonae (Myxozoa) is the causative agent of proliferative kidney disease in various species of salmonids which are found in Europe and North America. Less information about the interactions of T. bryosalmonae proteins with salmonid proteins during parasite development is known. In this study, anti-T. bryosalmonae monoclonal antibody-linked to N-hydroxysuccinimide-activated spin columns were used to purify parasite and host proteins from the kidneys of infected and non-infected brown trout (Salmo trutta) Linnaeus, 1758. The samples were next analyzed by electrospray ionization coupled to mass spectrometry to identify proteins that may be involved in the infection and proliferation of T. bryosalmonae within the brown trout host. A total of 6 parasite proteins and 40 different host proteins were identified in this analysis. The identified host proteins function in various processes, which include host defense, enzymatic, and structural components. In conjunction with modern molecular based tools, such siRNA, gene replacement, or gene disruption, this data can ultimately be used to develop novel control methods for T. bryosalmonae, based on the proteins or pathways identified in this study.

Antibody screening identifies 78 putative host proteins involved in Cyprinid herpesvirus 3 infection or propagation in common carp, Cyprinus carpio L

Cyprinid herpesvirus 3 (CyHV-3) is the aetiological agent of a serious and notifiable disease afflicting common and koi carp, Cyprinus carpio L., termed koi herpesvirus disease (KHVD). Significant progress has been achieved in the last 15 years, since the initial reports surfaced from Germany, USA and Israel of the CyHV-3 virus, in terms of pathology and detection. However, relatively few studies have been carried out in understanding viral replication and propagation. Antibody-based affinity has been used for detection of CyHV-3 in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and PCR-based techniques, and immunohistological assays have been used to describe a CyHV-3 membrane protein, termed ORF81. In this study, monoclonal antibodies linked to N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS)-activated spin columns were used to purify CyHV-3 and host proteins from tissue samples originating in either CyHV-3 symptomatic or asymptomatic fish. The samples were next analysed either by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and subsequently by electrospray ionization coupled to mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) or by ESI-MS analysis directly after purification. A total of 78 host proteins and five CyHV-3 proteins were identified in the two analyses. These data can be used to develop novel control methods for CyHV-3, based on pathways or proteins identified in this study.

Talin couples the actomyosin cortex to the plasma membrane during rear retraction and cytokinesis

Contraction of the cortical actin cytoskeleton underlies both rear retraction in directed cell migration and cytokinesis. Here, we show that talin, a central component of focal adhesions, has a major role in these processes. We found that Dictyostelium talin A colocalized with myosin II in the rear of migrating cells and the cleavage furrow. During directed cell migration, talin A-null cells displayed a long thin tail devoid of actin filaments, whereas additional depletion of SibA, a transmembrane adhesion molecule that binds to talin A, reverted this phenotype, suggesting a requirement of the link between actomyosin and SibA by talin A for rear retraction. Disruptions of talin A also resulted in detachment of the actomyosin contractile ring from the cell membrane and concomitant regression of the cleavage furrow under certain conditions. The C-terminal actin-binding domain (ABD) of talin A exhibited a localization pattern identical to that of full-length talin A. The N-terminal FERM domain was found to bind phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [PtdIns(4,5)P2] and phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate [PtdIns(3,4,5)P3] in vitro. In vivo, however, PtdIns(4,5)P2, which is known to activate talin, is believed to be enriched in the rear of migrating cells and the cleavage furrow in Dictyostelium. From these results, we propose that talin A activated by PtdIns(4,5)P2 in the cell posterior or cleavage furrow links actomyosin cytoskeleton to adhesion molecules or other membrane proteins, and that the force is transmitted through these links to retract the tail during cell migration or to cause efficient ingression of the equator during cytokinesis.

TM9/Phg1 and SadA proteins control surface expression and stability of SibA adhesion molecules in Dictyostelium

ETOC: TM9/Phg1 proteins are essential for cellular adhesion in many systems, from Dictyostelium to human cells, yet their exact role remains unknown. We demonstrate that TM9 proteins participate in adhesion in Dictyostelium cells by controlling the surface levels of SibA adhesion molecules, notably by influencing their sorting in the endocytic pathway.

TM9 proteins form a family of conserved proteins with nine transmembrane domains essential for cellular adhesion in many biological systems, but their exact role in this process remains unknown. In this study, we found that genetic inactivation of the TM9 protein Phg1A dramatically decreases the surface levels of the SibA adhesion molecule in Dictyostelium amoebae. This is due to a decrease in sibA mRNA levels, in SibA protein stability, and in SibA targeting to the cell surface. A similar phenotype was observed in cells devoid of SadA, a protein that does not belong to the TM9 family but also exhibits nine transmembrane domains and is essential for cellular adhesion. A contact site A (csA)-SibA chimeric protein comprising only the transmembrane and cytosolic domains of SibA and the extracellular domain of the Dictyostelium surface protein csA also showed reduced stability and relocalization to endocytic compartments in phg1A knockout cells. These results indicate that TM9 proteins participate in cell adhesion by controlling the levels of adhesion proteins present at the cell surface.

Characterization of a myosin VII MyTH/FERM domain

A group of closely related myosins is characterized by the presence of at least one MyTH/FERM (myosin tail homology; band 4.1, ezrin, radixin, moesin) domain in their C-terminal tails. This domain interacts with a variety of binding partners, and mutations in either the MyTH4 or the FERM domain of myosin VII and myosin XV result in deafness, highlighting the functional importance of each domain. The N-terminal MyTH/FERM region of Dictyostelium myosin VII (M7) has been isolated as a first step toward gaining insight into the function of this domain and its interaction with binding partners. The M7 MyTH4/FERM domain (MF1) binds to both actin and microtubules in vitro, with dissociation constants of 13.7 and 1.7 μM, respectively. Gel filtration and UV spectroscopy reveal that MF1 exists as a monomer in solution and forms a well-folded, compact conformation with a high degree of secondary structure. These results indicate that MF1 forms an integrated structural domain that serves to couple actin filaments and microtubules in specific regions of the cytoskeleton.

A FERM domain in a class XIV myosin interacts with actin and tubulin and localizes to the cytoskeleton, phagosomes, and nucleus in Tetrahymena thermophila

Previous studies have shown that Myo1(myosin class XIV) localizes to the cytoskeleton and is involved in amitosis of the macronucleus and trafficking of phagosomes. Myo1 contains a FERM domain that could be a site for interaction between Myo1 and the cytoskeleton. Here, we explore the function of FERM by investigating its cytoskeleton binding partners and involvement in localization of Myo1. Alignment of Myo1 FERM with a talin actin-binding sequence, a MAP-2 tubulin-binding sequence, the radixin FERM dimerization motif, and the SV40 nuclear localization sequence (NLS) revealed putative actin- and tubulin-binding sequences, a putative FERM dimerization motif, and NLS-like sequences in both the N-terminal and C-terminal regions of Myo1 FERM. Alignment of Myo1 with an ERM C-terminal motif revealed a similar sequence in the Myo1 motor domain. GFP-FERM and two truncated FERM domains were separately expressed in Tetrahymena. GFP-FERM contained the entire Myo1 FERM. Truncated Myo1 FERM domains contained either the N-terminal or the C-terminal region of FERM and one putative sequence for actin-binding, one for tubulin-binding, a putative dimerization motif, and a NLS-like sequence. Actin antibody coprecipitated GFP-fusion polypeptides and tubulin from lysate of cells expressing GFP-fusions. Cosedimentation assays performed with either whole cell extracts or anti-actin immunoprecipitation pellets revealed that F-actin (independent of ATP) and microtubules cosedimented with GFP-fusion polypeptides. GFP-FERM localized to the cytoskeleton, phagosomes, and nucleus. Truncated GFP-FERM domains localized to phagosomes but not to the cytoskeleton or nucleus.

Myosin motor function: the ins and outs of actin-based membrane protrusions

Cells build plasma membrane protrusions supported by parallel bundles of F-actin to enable a wide variety of biological functions, ranging from motility to host defense. Filopodia, microvilli and stereocilia are three such protrusions that have been the focus of intense biological and biophysical investigation in recent years. While it is evident that actin dynamics play a significant role in the formation of these organelles, members of the myosin superfamily have also been implicated as key players in the maintenance of protrusion architecture and function. Based on a simple analysis of the physical forces that control protrusion formation and morphology, as well as our review of available data, we propose that myosins play two general roles within these structures: (1) as cargo transporters to move critical regulatory components toward distal tips and (2) as mediators of membrane-cytoskeleton adhesion.

Mediation, modulation, and consequences of membrane-cytoskeleton interactions

Elements of the cytoskeleton interact intimately and communicate bidirectionally with cellular membranes. Such interactions are critical for a host of cellular processes. Here we focus on the many types of interactions that exist between the cytoskeleton and the plasma membrane to illustrate why these cellular components can never truly be studied in isolation in vivo. We discuss how membrane-cytoskeleton interactions are mediated and modulated, and how many proteins involved in these interactions are disrupted in human disease. We then highlight key molecular and physical variables that must be considered in order to mechanistically dissect events associated with changes in plasma membrane morphology. These considerations are integrated into the context of cell migration, filopodia formation, and clathrin-mediated endocytosis to show how a holistic view of the plasma membrane-cytoskeleton interface can allow for the appropriate interpretation of experimental findings and provide novel mechanistic insight into these important cellular events.

The multi-FERM-domain-containing protein FrmA is required for turnover of paxillin-adhesion sites during cell migration of Dictyostelium

FERM domain proteins, including talins, ERMs, FAK and certain myosins, regulate connections between the plasma membrane, cytoskeleton and extracellular matrix. Here we show that FrmA, a Dictyostelium discoideum protein containing two talin-like FERM domains, plays a major role in normal cell shape, cell-substrate adhesion and actin cytoskeleton organisation. Using total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy we show that FrmA-null cells are more adherent to substrate than wild-type cells because of an increased number, persistence and mislocalisation of paxillin-rich cell-substrate adhesions, which is associated with decreased motility. We show for the first time that talinA colocalises with paxillin at the distal ends of filopodia to form cell-substrate adhesions and indeed arrives prior to paxillin. After a period of colocalisation, talin leaves the adhesion site followed by paxillin. Whereas talinA-rich spots turnover prior to the arrival of the main body of the cell, paxillin-rich spots turn over as the main body of the cell passes over it. In FrmA-null cells talinA initially localises to cell-substrate adhesion sites at the distal ends of filopodia but paxillin is instead localised to stabilised adhesion sites at the periphery of the main cell body. This suggests a model for cell-substrate adhesion in Dictyostelium whereby the talin-like FERM domains of FrmA regulate the temporal and spatial control of talinA and paxillin at cell-substrate adhesion sites, which in turn controls adhesion and motility.

Talin influences the dynamics of the myosin VII-membrane interaction

Myosin VII (M7) and talin are ancient and ubiquitous actin-binding proteins with conserved roles in adhesion. Talin serves to link membrane receptors to the underlying actin cytoskeleton and forms a complex with M7 in Dictyostelium. The levels of talinA are tightly linked to M7 levels in Dictyostelium. Cells lacking M7 exhibit an 80% decrease in steady-state levels of talinA, whereas increased levels of M7 result in concomitant increases in total talinA. In contrast, changes in talinA levels do not affect M7 levels. Immunoprecipitation reveals that talinA and M7 are associated with each other in membrane fractions. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching experiments on green fluorescent protein (GFP)-M7 cells expressing different levels of the M7 and talinA show that changes in the overall amounts of these two proteins influences the dynamics of membrane-associated M7. The recovery of GFP-M7 on the membrane is faster in cells lacking talinA and limited in the presence of excess amounts of talinA and M7. These results establish that M7 stabilizes talinA in the cytosol and, in return, talinA regulates the residence time of M7 at the plasma membrane, suggesting that these two proteins are both part of the same dynamic adhesion complex on the plasma membrane.

Rap1 controls cell adhesion and cell motility through the regulation of myosin II

We have investigated the role of Rap1 in controlling chemotaxis and cell adhesion in Dictyostelium discoideum. Rap1 is activated rapidly in response to chemoattractant stimulation, and activated Rap1 is preferentially found at the leading edge of chemotaxing cells. Cells expressing constitutively active Rap1 are highly adhesive and exhibit strong chemotaxis defects, which are partially caused by an inability to spatially and temporally regulate myosin assembly and disassembly. We demonstrate that the kinase Phg2, a putative Rap1 effector, colocalizes with Rap1–guanosine triphosphate at the leading edge and is required in an in vitro assay for myosin II phosphorylation, which disassembles myosin II and facilitates filamentous actin–mediated leading edge protrusion. We suggest that Rap1/Phg2 plays a role in controlling leading edge myosin II disassembly while passively allowing myosin II assembly along the lateral sides and posterior of the cell.

Powering membrane traffic in endocytosis and recycling

Early in evolution, the diversification of membrane-bound compartments that characterize eukaryotic cells was accompanied by the elaboration of molecular machineries that mediate intercompartmental communication and deliver materials to specific destinations. Molecular motors that move on tracks of actin filaments or microtubules mediate the movement of organelles and transport between compartments. The subjects of this review are the motors that power the transport steps along the endocytic and recycling pathways, their modes of attachment to cargo and their regulation.

The making of filopodia

Filopodia are rod-like cell surface projections filled with bundles of parallel actin filaments. They are found on a variety of cell types and have been ascribed sensory or exploratory functions. Filopodium formation is frequently associated with protrusion of sheet-like actin filament arrays called lamellipodia and membrane ruffles, but, in comparison to these structures, the molecular details underpinning the initiation and maintenance of filopodia are only just beginning to emerge. Recent advances have improved our understanding of the molecular requirements for filopodium protrusion and have yielded insights into the inter-relationships between lamellipodia and filopodia, the two 'sub-compartments' of the protrusive actin cytoskeleton.

Gene duplication and functional divergence during evolution of the cytoskeletal linker protein talin

The animal talins are large, modular proteins that link the actin cytoskeleton to the extracellular environment through interactions with beta-integrins and actin. Dictyostelium discoideum has two talins, TalA and TalB, which have distinct physiological roles in cell adhesion, cell differentiation, and cytokinesis. We previously identified a second talin gene in vertebrates. Thus, talin function in vertebrates is also due to the action of multiple proteins. Using a phylogenomic approach we have determined that D. discoideum TalA/B and the animal talins are related by descent from a common ancestral talin and that duplication of TLN2 early in the chordate lineage produced TLN1. An additional duplication subsequently produced a second Talin-2 in teleost fishes and a second Talin-1 in Xenopus laevis. We also show that vertebrate Talin-2 mRNA is alternatively processed. In the invertebrate Drosophila melanogaster and in the non-vertebrate chordate Ciona intestinalis, which each have only one talin gene, alternative processing of talin mRNA also produces multiple talin species. Thus, in these organisms, talin function may be due to the action of more than one protein. To identify isoform-specific functions of vertebrate talins we have shown through proteomic analysis that mammalian Talin-1 and Talin-2 bind to different protein partners. Further characterization of the differences between animal talins, especially the direct comparison of talins in the model urochordate C. intestinalis, which has one talin gene that produces two talins through alternative mRNA splicing, with Talin-1 and Talin-2 in model vertebrates, will provide an experimental system for studying neofunctionalization or subfunctionalization of talin following the vertebrate talin gene duplication.

Genetic, biochemical and structural approaches to talin function

The cytoskeletal protein talin plays a key role in coupling the integrin family of cell adhesion molecules to the actin cytoskeleton. In this paper I present a brief review on talin and summarize our recent studies, in which we have taken both genetic and structural approaches to further elucidate the function of the protein.

Cytoskeletal interactions with the outside world

Cell motility depends on the conversion of extracellular cues into intracellular cytoskeletal responses. A recent Keystone meeting on cell migration and adhesion showcased advances in the field.